Bill > S419

This bill allows licensed raw milk farmers to deliver raw milk directly to consumers off their farms, as long as there is a direct contract between the farmer and the consumer, even if a third party handles the delivery or if it's part of a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. Deliveries can be made to a consumer's home or a designated site, but not in a retail setting unless it's a CSA delivery, in which case the raw milk must be kept separate from other retail items and inaccessible to the general public. The bill also permits raw milk farmers to sell from farm stands that are not physically connected to their dairy farms, provided they follow specific laws. Furthermore, the Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, will establish rules for handling, packaging, storing, and transporting raw milk, and will allow for non-mechanical refrigeration methods.