UPDATE: MDAR Backs Off on Raw Milk Language
May 7, 2010 MDAR Drops Proposed Raw Milk Language in Favor of "Broader Look" at Raw Milk Marketing At 5:10 p.m. on Friday, May 7, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) announced that the language to only allow on-farm purchases of raw milk and outlaw raw milk buying clubs will be removed from their proposed changes to the raw milk regulations, at least for the time being. The hearing will go on as scheduled, but these provisions of the proposed changes will not be discussed. In MDAR's words: "The passion and concern on all sides of the raw milk debate have led MDAR to plan for a broader look at issues associated with raw milk. While MDAR expects that there are many ways that raw milk can impact the milk market, further investigation into all aspects of this issue is needed." They also make it clear that they still consider buying clubs to be operating illegally: "A Milk Dealer is defined within the Milk Control Laws as anyone in the business of receiving, purchasing, pasteurizing, bottling, processing, distributing or otherwise handling milk. This is still the case, and MDAR will take such steps to enforce violations as they become aware of them." The full text of the statement is available here [www.mass.gov/agr/news/pr/330CRM27-announcement-050710.pdf]. The fact that MDAR is putting off these changes to the regulations is a testament to our perseverance and passion. Now we need to maintain that pressure on the agency and on the legislature to continue to listen and protect our food rights. MDAR has made it clear that they will NOT hear testimony about the on-farm purchase rule or the buying club prohibitions at the Monday hearing, so that is no longer an opportunity to be heard. If you have written letters to MDAR they will still carry weight as the agency move forward in its process. If you have written to your legislators, please be sure to let them know that their support helped and that we appreciate the letters and comments they have sent to MDAR. Continue to urge others to contact MDAR and legislators about this issue. We will continue to keep you informed as opportunities arise for public comment and action. MDAR clearly heard the voices of consumers, farmers and advocates over the last several weeks, but their language indicates that they have also heard from those who would like to see access to raw milk further restricted. As hard as we are fighting for greater access to raw milk, the conventional dairy industry and regulators such as the FDA and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are also fighting hard to do away with all access. We have been very public with our opposition to the proposed regulations and will now insist that MDAR make public the comments they have received in support so that we can better understand what we are up against. At Monday's hearing MDAR will accept testimony about other proposed changes in the language. A NOFA/Mass review of that language has found items such as: an increase in the concentration of chlorine in the solution caps must be washed in; changes in language that make the regulations apply to all lactating animals (not just cows); changes in language regarding the flooring material in milking parlors; and adoption of several appendices to the PMO that deal with technical issues. If you would like a copy of the redline version of the regulation, with the proposed changes highlighted, please email winton@nofamass.org. Thanks to a lot of hard work from many people, we have played a part in beating back, however temporarily, regulations that would have deeply harmed Massachusetts dairy farmers and diminished food rights for everyone. Our message was clearly heard by MDAR, and many new supporters have joined us along the way thanks to our outreach and education efforts over the last few weeks. Please continue to buy milk from Massachusetts raw milk dairies, spread the word about this wonderful food, and keep speaking out about the importance of preserving food freedom. For more information, or to find out how you can get involved in the NOFA/Massachusetts Raw Milk Network, please contact Winton Pitcoff at winton@nofamass.org. For updates and other raw milk news, please join our Facebook page.
This page was last modified on March 20, 2011 at 6:06:30 PM.
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