Bill > HB5219

This bill modifies Michigan's Food Law to create a legal framework for direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw milk and raw milk products. The bill introduces several key provisions: first, it defines terms like "direct farm-to-consumer producer" and "direct farm-to-consumer product" (which specifically means unpasteurized milk). Producers must file a notice with the state department at least 90 days before selling such products and are exempt from standard licensing requirements, though they must still meet adulteration standards. When selling raw milk products, producers must provide consumers with a waiver acknowledging the risks of consuming unpasteurized milk. The bill restricts sales to direct transactions at farmers' markets, farm stands, private food clubs, and similar venues, explicitly prohibiting sales at retail groceries. Producers must maintain records of milk temperature and quarterly pathogen testing and cannot be sourced from large confinement animal feeding operations. The bill also introduces the concept of a "private food club" where members can voluntarily buy, share, or distribute food outside traditional commercial frameworks, with members signing a waiver acknowledging potential health risks. These provisions aim to provide a regulated pathway for small-scale, direct agricultural product sales while ensuring consumer awareness of potential health considerations.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-5219