Raw Milk Legislation - H. 218

Rural Vermont is working with a farmer leadership group to make improvements to existing raw milk legislation and regulation.

H.218, a bill that would expand raw milk community sales, was recently introduced. The bill broadly defines farmstand and CSA in the raw milk statute and allows the sale of raw milk through those venues. The outline of the changes are as follows:

  • Farms following tier two requirements shall be able to sell raw milk at other farm’s farmstands and CSAs within 30 miles point to point of the farm where it was produced. 

  • The word "verbal" has been removed from the requirement to inform each customer of the need to refrigerate milk

  • Requirements for recording sales and customer information remain the same and can be managed as determined by the raw milk farmer and the CSA manager/farmstand owner. 

  • Milk must remain at or below 40 degree Fahrenheit at all times 

  • The farmstand or CSA where milk is sold must display the 8.5x11 warning sign: “Unpasteurized (Raw) Milk. Keep Refrigerated. Consuming raw unpasteurized milk may cause illness, particularly in children, seniors, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.”

  • All labeling and other requirements of the law remain the same

  • If successful, these changes would go into effect July 1, 2021

If this bill is successful, would it help your farm business? Are you interested in telling your story to the VT legislature? We want to hear from you! Email mollie@ruralvermont.org

Rural Vermont