2017 -- S 0248

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LC001075

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- MILK SANITATION

     Introduced By: Senators Kettle, P Fogarty, Sosnowski, Morgan, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 21-2-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-2 entitled "Milk

Sanitation Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     21-2-6. Grade A dairy farm permit holders.

     (a) All grade A dairy farms shall be inspected at least two (2) times each year by the

department of health. If the grade A dairy farm is located outside of the state, the department may

accept the inspection of some person or agency outside of the state of Rhode Island who has been

qualified and approved by the director to make the inspection.

     (b) Every grade A dairy farm permit holder shall be equipped with a bulk storage and

pickup tank with suitable and adequate cooling equipment, and no grade A raw milk for

pasteurization from grade A dairy farms shall be picked up in cans.

     (c) No milk sold or shipped by a grade A dairy farm permit holder as grade A raw milk

for pasteurization shall be commingled in any manner with milk or milk products of any other

grade if it is to be sold as grade A pasteurized milk.

     (d) The director of health shall be responsible for the enforcement of this section.

     (e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

     (1) The production of milk, milk products, raw milk or raw milk products and the

manufacture of cheese for personal consumption or for consumption by immediate family

members; or

     (2) The transfer or exchange of raw milk between persons who are parties to the same

shared animal ownership agreement. For purposes of this subsection, "shared animal ownership

agreement" means any contractual arrangement in which a person acquires ownership interest in a

milk-producing animal, agrees to pay or reimburse another person or otherwise accept financial

responsibility for the care and boarding of such milk-producing animal, and is entitled to receive

a share of the raw milk produced by such milk-producing animal.

     SECTION 2. 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

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     This act would permit commingling of raw milk products for certain purposes involving

private consumption.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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