AB 697

This bill allows a dairy farmer to sell unpasteurized (raw) milk and raw milk

products such as butter and cheese directly to consumers on the farm where the milk

and milk products are produced. Current law generally prohibits the sale of raw milk

and raw milk products.

This bill also exempts certain dairy farmers from licensing requirements under

current law. Current law requires a dairy farmer to have a milk producer license

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

requires a facility that processes or manufactures dairy products such as butter or

cheese to have a dairy plant license from DATCP. Current law also requires a facility

engaging in food processing to have a food processing license from DATCP, but

provides an exception for dairy plants that have a dairy plant license. Under the bill,

a dairy farmer does not need to have a milk producer license if the only milk sold by

the dairy farmer is raw milk that is sold to consumers on the farm where the milk

is produced. The bill also exempts dairy farmers from needing a dairy plant or food

processing license if the only milk products that the dairy farmer processes or

manufactures are raw milk products for sale to consumers on the farm where the

milk is produced.

In addition, this bill exempts certain dairy farmers from the grade A permitting

requirements under current law. Current law prohibits the sale to consumers of milk

or fluid milk products that are not grade A milk or fluid milk products. A dairy

farmer or dairy plant operator selling grade A milk or grade A fluid milk products

must have a grade A permit. The standards for producing grade A milk and milk

products are more stringent than for non-grade A milk and milk products. Under

the bill, a dairy farmer may sell non-grade A raw milk or raw milk products directly

to consumers on the farm where the milk and milk products are produced.

Finally, this bill creates exemptions to DATCP rules relating to the operation

of dairy farms and dairy plants and the testing and quality of milk and milk products.

Under the bill, these DATCP rules do not apply to raw milk or raw milk products sold

directly to consumers on the farm or to the operation of a dairy farm or dairy plant

that does not sell or distribute milk or milk products other than raw milk or raw milk

products.