2016 -- H 7817

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LC005092

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - MILK SANITATION CODE

     Introduced By: Representatives Canario, Johnston, Chippendale, Edwards, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 21-2-2 and 21-2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-2 entitled

"Milk Sanitation Code" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     21-2-2. Declaration of policy. -- Milk is recognized to be one of the most perfect foods

afforded by nature. It is unique in that its consumption in adequate quantities is essential to the

nutritional well being of the individual; but if its production and distribution are not properly

safeguarded, it may be instrumental in the transmission of diseases infectious to people. It is

declared to be the policy of the state that for the protection of the health and welfare of the people

of the state of Rhode Island the environmental conditions surrounding the production, handling,

transportation, distribution, and sale of milk and milk products shall be to protect the public

health and to provide consumers with products which are identified in such a way as to promote

honesty and fair dealing in the best interests of the consumers. Specifically, it is declared to be the

policy of the state to provide:

      (1) That the people of Rhode Island shall have a supply of milk adequate to their needs

and demands under all conditions.

      (2) That milk provided for consumers within the state of Rhode Island shall be of good

quality, shall be safe for human consumption, shall contain no live bacteria capable of

transmitting disease to people, shall contain adequate nutritional components, and shall be free of

adulteration.

      (3) That milk sold or produced in Rhode Island shall come from healthy cows, sheep or

goats.

      (4) That milk sold or produced in Rhode Island shall be produced on farms having

standards and conditions of sanitation adequate to ensure production of milk that is safe and of

good quality.

      (5) That milk sold or produced in Rhode Island shall be produced, processed, and

handled by personnel free from any communicable disease.

      (6) That milk to be consumed in the state of Rhode Island shall at all stages in its travel

from animal to ultimate consumer is transported in equipment and/or packages which shall be

designed, filled, operated, maintained, and emptied to prevent the introduction and/or propagation

of bacteria, dirt or any other foreign substances.

      (7) That all milk sold in Rhode Island shall be handled and processed under conditions of

good sanitation and shall be finally packaged free from contamination, dirt, or any other foreign

substances and/or adulteration.

      (8) That all milk sold within the state of Rhode Island shall be, except as specifically

authorized by this chapter, pasteurized by a recognized method of pasteurizing adequate to

destroy bacteria capable of transmitting disease to people. Provided, that a physician may

authorize an individual sale of goat milk directly from producer to consumer by written, signed

prescription.

      (9) That the branding or labeling of packages in which all milk sold in the state of Rhode

Island shall be delivered to the consumer shall state the grade of milk packaged, may state any

special attributes of the milk, and that all statements made on any packaging labels shall not be

false or misleading.

      (10) That this state shall cooperate in the preparation and promulgation of any set of

standards, regulations, statutes, or other means of control of sanitation in the production,

transportation, handling, processing, and distribution of milk, or any one or more of them,

according to a uniform system of requirements to be adopted alike by all or a majority of the

states which contribute milk to the Rhode Island market.

     21-2-3. Definitions. -- (a) "Cream" means the liquid milk product high in fat from milk,

which may have been adjusted by adding to it: milk, concentrated milk, dry whole milk, skim

milk, or nonfat dry milk.

      (b) "Director" means the director of the department of health unless otherwise specified.

      (c) "Goat milk" is the lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the

complete milking of healthy goats. The word "milk" is interpreted to include goat milk.

      (d) "Grade A" means milk, cream, and products of milk and cream which comply with

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the applicable provisions of regulations established by the director.

      (e) "Milk" means the lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by

complete milking of one or more healthy cows. Milk that is in final package form for beverage

use shall contain not less than eight and one-fourth percent (8.25%) milk solids not fat and not

less than three and one-fourth percent (3.25%) milk fat. Milk may have been adjusted by

separating part of the milk fat from it or by adding cream, concentrated milk, dry whole milk,

skim milk, concentrated skim milk, or nonfat dry milk to it. The milk may be homogenized.

      (f) "Raw milk for pasteurization" means grade "A" milk for pasteurization and raw

products of milk which comply with the sanitary standards for their production, transportation,

receiving, handling, storage, processing, distribution, and sale as established by the director.

      (g) "Raw milk cheese" means any aged hard cheese manufactured from raw milk which

meets US FDA standards for cheeses set for them in 21 CFR 133 and has not undergone the

process of pasteurization and which contains, as appropriate for the cheese, generally recognized

as safe (GRAS) and suitable ingredients as defined in 21 CFR 184.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 21-2 of the General Laws entitled "Milk Sanitation Code" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     21-2-7.1. Rhode Island raw milk cheese. -- It shall be lawful to produce in this state for

sale raw milk cheese, as defined in §21-2-3, provided that for the facility for making of such raw

milk cheese, an in-state processors permit is obtained pursuant to §21-2-7. The fee for such

permit shall be in accordance with the provisions of §23-1-54 for permits issued pursuant to §21-

2-7(g)(1), and the facility where the cheese is made shall comply with applicable standards,

administered by the director, for a food business, which are reasonable and appropriate for a

facility of this type and nature.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - MILK SANITATION CODE

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     This act would allow the production of raw milk cheese in Rhode Island in accordance

with US FDA standards and under a permit issued by the director of the department of health.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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