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2018 SESSION

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18105531D
SENATE BILL NO. 962 Offered January 19, 2018 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 52 of Title 3.2 an article numbered 5, consisting of sections numbered 3.2-5234 through 3.2-5238, relating to herd shares; written shared herd ownership agreements; requirements; penalty. ---------- Patron-- Obenshain ---------- Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 52 of Title 3.2 an article numbered 5, consisting of sections numbered 3.2-5234 through 3.2-5238, as follows:

Article 5. Herd Shares.

§ 3.2-5234. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Abnormal milk" means milk that is, as evidenced by its color, odor, or texture, different from normal milk.

"Contaminated milk" means milk that is unfit for sale or human consumption as a result of treatment of the milk-producing animal (i) with veterinary products, including antibiotics, that were administered within the recommended withholding time or (ii) medicines or insecticides not approved for use on dairy animals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Herd seller" means a person who agrees to sell a percentage ownership interest in a milking herd to a responsible party.

"Herd share" means the ownership interest in a fixed percentage of a herd of milk-producing animals.

"Milking herd" means one or more milk-producing animals.

"Milk-producing animal" means any hooved mammal.

"Normal milk" means the normal pasteurized or unpasteurized lacteal secretion obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy hooved mammals that evidences the commonly accepted color, odor, or texture of milk of that mammal.

"Percentage ownership interest" means the ownership share, expressed as a percentage, of a milking herd that is purchased by a responsible party.

"Responsible party" means a person 18 years of age or older.

"Undesirable milk" means milk that, prior to the milking of the milk-producing animal, is expected to be unsuitable for sale, including milk containing colostrum.

"Unpasteurized milk" means the normal lacteal secretion obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy hooved mammals that has not been pasteurized and is practically free of colostrum.

"Written shared herd ownership agreement" means a legally executed agreement between the herd seller and buyer wherein the seller agrees to sell a set percentage of his herd to the buyer.

§ 3.2-5235. Written shared herd ownership agreement; provisions and execution.

A. In order to obtain a herd share of a milking herd, a responsible party shall enter into a written shared herd ownership agreement with a herd seller. Such agreement shall provide that following execution of the written shared herd ownership agreement, the responsible party:

1. Acquires a herd share in a milking herd;

2. Agrees to remunerate or barter with the herd seller for the percentage ownership interest of the milking herd and the care and boarding of all milk-producing animals in the purchased milking herd;

3. Assumes joint liability associated with the milking herd and any milk produced by such herd and stored, or packaged, at the farm;

4. Is entitled to receive a share of the milking herd's milk production equal to the percentage ownership interest following the completion of the signed and executed written shared herd ownership agreement;

5. Acknowledges the inherent dangers of consuming unpasteurized milk that may contain bacteria, such as Brucella, Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli; that has not been pasteurized to remove bacteria; and that is particularly dangerous to children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immunity; and

6. Agrees not to distribute or deliver milk to any person that is not a party to the written shared herd ownership agreement. The sale, resale, or redistribution of unpasteurized milk or products made from unpasteurized milk obtained from a herd share is strictly prohibited.

B. Any herd seller that is a party to a written shared herd ownership agreement shall have a signed and executed agreement prior to delivering to the responsible party any share of milk required by the agreement. The agreement shall contain the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the herd seller and the responsible party so that either party may be contacted in the event of an illness. Upon request of any state agency, such agreement shall be made available to the agency within 48 hours of the request being made.

§ 3.2-5236. Animal health requirements; reporting of illness.

A. Any herd seller that is a party to a written shared herd ownership agreement shall meet the following animal health requirements for milk-producing animals:

1. Unpasteurized milk from milk-producing animals intended for consumption shall be from a herd that tested negative within the previous 12 months for brucellosis and tuberculosis. Additions to the herd shall test negative for the diseases within the previous 30 days before introduction into the herd;

2. Any milk-producing animal that produces abnormal, undesirable, or contaminated milk shall be excluded from the milking herd until reexamination shows that the milk has become normal. A milk-producing animal with only slight inflammation of the udder shall be excluded from the milking herd until reexamination shows that the milk has become normal. A milk-producing animal that shows chronic mastitis, whether producing abnormal milk or not, shall be permanently excluded from the milking herd; and

3. Such herd seller shall have an ongoing veterinarian-client-patient relationship with a veterinarian licensed pursuant to Chapter 38 (§ 54.1-3800 et seq.) of Title 54.1.

B. Upon receipt of a report of suspected illness related to consumption of unpasteurized milk provided pursuant to a written shared herd ownership agreement, the State Health Commissioner or his designee shall conduct an investigation, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall provide assistance upon request. The State Health Commissioner shall have the right of entry to investigate pursuant to § 32.1-25. In the case of a confirmed illness tied to consumption of unpasteurized milk, the State Health Commissioner shall notify the public and impacted parties.

§ 3.2-5237. Packaging.

Any milk produced under a written shared herd ownership agreement and intended for consumption shall be packaged in a container labeled with the name, address, and contact information of the herd seller. Such package shall include a consumer advisory indicating the danger of consuming unpasteurized animal-derived foods that have not been processed to remove pathogens.

§ 3.2-5238. Penalty for violation.

Any violation of or failure to comply with the provisions of this article is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each day during which such violation or failure occurs shall constitute a separate offense.