AB 645

This bill makes changes to food regulations for dairy plants and food processing

plants.

Under current law, an operator of a dairy plant must obtain a license to operate

from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The

operator of a food processing plant must obtain a separate license from DATCP.

Under the bill, a licensed food processing plant that processes dairy products

into prepared foods that are not dairy products need not also obtain a dairy plant

license if the dairy products used at the plant are produced by a licensed dairy plant

and are pasteurized or otherwise treated for safe consumption. The bill changes the

definition of "dairy product" to include milk from cows, goats, sheep, or hooved or

camelid mammals, any product or by-product derived solely from that milk, any

item that meets a standard of identity under the federal regulations or the U.S. Code,

and any item that fails to meet a federal standard of identity solely because it

contains milk from goats, sheep, or hooved or camelid mammals instead of cow's

milk.

The bill also changes other definitions relating to dairy plants and food

processing plants.