(The Center Square) – A Senate committee made the ability of Coloradans to purchase raw milk from producers a step closer to reality.
By a 7-0 vote, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday approved Senate Bill 24-043. If the bill becomes law, it would authorize a raw milk producer to engage in the sale of raw milk to consumers if they register with the state Department of Public Health and Environment.
Raw milk producers will be required to comply with state regulations regarding labeling, storage, handling and transportation. However, direct-to-consumer sales could only take place at the location where the raw milk is produced, at the consumer’s residence, a farmer’s market or a roadside market.
“This is a direct result from some constituents in my district that I’ve heard from over several years,” bill sponsor Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, who also chairs the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, said during testimony. “I’m sure many of you have heard from constituents asking for some modifications in our raw milk laws. This is a good bill to promote local agriculture.”
Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Logan, and Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, also sponsored the bill.
No one spoke against the bill during the hearing, but several testified in favor of making amendments providing more clarity in the regulations.
“Most of us have grown up on raw milk all our lives and we also know there’s a part of raw milk that could potentially be dangerous,” Pelton said. “’But there’s labeling and it’s your choice. I’ve had family members who’ve been sick from raw milk, but those dangers and the labels are there. So I think this is a good step forward.”
Tyler Garrett, director of government relations for Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, said consumers have the right to make food choices and the ability to determine their own risk regarding the consumption of raw milk and its products.
“I’ve had numerous conversations with members and … the main concern they had was that it would interfere or drastically change or eliminate the system that allows distribution of raw milk to the existing herd share model,” Garrett said, referring to regulations where producers can provide products to those sharing livestock operations. “We appreciate the clarification.”
Jordan Beezley, the deputy commissioner of external affairs at the Department of Agriculture, said legislation will be stronger with the addition of amendments, which were approved, to align with other investigative programs like those for egg regulations.