Purpose
To establish a federal framework allowing individuals and small farmers to sell and distribute raw milk, ensuring consumer access to nutritious products while safeguarding public health.
Findings
Raw milk consumption benefits human health.
Current regulations disproportionately affect small farmers.
States’ varying laws create confusion.
Definitions
Raw milk: Unpasteurized milk from cows, goats or sheep.
Small farmer: Farms with ≤$250,000 annual revenue.
Federal Regulation
Allows raw milk sales directly to consumers.
Requires labeling: “Raw Milk - Not Pasteurized”.
Exempts small farmers from federal licensing.
Preemption
Preempts state laws restricting raw milk sales.
Compliance
Registration with USDA.
Annual inspection.
Adherence to sanitation guidelines.
Enforcement
USDA and states share enforcement authority.
Effective Date
180 days post-enactment.
States Where Selling Raw Milk is Illegal or Restricted*
Illegal
Nevada
Louisiana
Montana
New Jersey
Maryland
Restricted
California (permitted but heavily regulated)
Washington (licensed distributors only)
Oregon (registered dairy farms)
Wisconsin (limited sales)
New York (permitted but regulated)
States Allowing Raw Milk Sales
Arizona
Connecticut
Idaho
Maine
Michigan
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Wyoming
Congressional Action Needed
Pass legislation to override restrictive state laws.
Yes, raw milk for all! If there is worry that big companies will start selling their bloody puss water raw, only allow it for small-scale farm-to-table situations or cooperative memberships.
Literally came here to specifically see if someone had already addressed being able to sell/buy raw milk directly. It’s something I would love to do (buy), but buying into shares is so expensive in CO.
Yes, please! This would be wonderful to have raw milk in NY. Customers at my food stand for vegetables were constantly asking for raw milk in Oneida County NY. This is wanted across NYS. I will restart the dairy at my farm. It was a dairy farm but Rome, NY litigation has me currently shut down due to No Right To Farm policy. LET US FARM!
Why anyone would want to drink puss and drug laden animal secretions, rip babies away from their mothers after a forced pregnancy, I’ll never understand. We are the only animal on the plant that drinks another animals breast milk and post infancy. There are crisis level issues and this isn’t one of them.
I wouldn’t limit this to only farms with equal or less than $250,000 in annual revenue. I think all farmers should have the right to sell raw milk. Individuals should take personal responsibility and only buy from farms they trust, no matter the size.
Local Farmers need to be able to sell to Grocery Stores. It’s too difficult to find a farmer that sells Dairy products, It’s too difficult to have to travels miles and miles to purchase it from farmers. Dairy Farmers are far and few between. OPEN it up totally. A friend lives in a state that allows purchase directly from Farmers, They’ve yet to find one.