The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) seems determined to stop the sale of raw milk in South Dakota.They've scheduled a THIRD hearing for THE SAME SET OF RULES that they proposed for the last hearing!
These rules for raw (unpasteurized) milk would encroach on access to raw milk --- it is time for public comment once again to secure the availability of raw milk here in our state.
If you care about maintaining food freedom of choice, PLEASE send an email to SDDA at[email protected]by noon Central on October 21, 2013.
The SDDA seems determined to stop the sale of raw milk in South Dakota. Show SDDA that residents are equally determined to keep raw milk flowing in South Dakota!
Please share this alert with friends and family.
MORE INFORMATION
A list of requested changes was submitted by many in June and the SDDA amended the proposed rules to change the language (in most places but not all) from "offer or provide" to "sale" but failed to incorporate many of the other requested changes. Problems remained in the July 3rd version:
Conflicting regulations,
New tests, and
New facility requirements.
Small raw milk producers who currently qualify to make sales on-farm and at farmers markets would be eliminated by the imposition of costly changes to their facilities and new labeling methods. SDDA ignored all the input from the July 26th and August 20th meetings .
Several provisions that currently apply to pasteurized milk are included in the rules, resulting in very confusing rules which contradict themselves several times. Ask the LRRC to support rules that recognize the value of small family farmers, ensure the health and safety of raw milk consumers, and safeguard consumer freedom of choice. The current proposed rules will create unnecessary regulations that will not achieve heightened health or safety, rules that will actually create further burdens on family farmers.See the Raw Milk Nation Map & Chart
Raw Milk Nation Map & Chart show licensed on-farms sales and at farmers markets are legal as well as delivery; the proposed rules seek to reverse that.
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit [EIN 20-8605130], defends the rights and broadens the freedoms of family farms and artisan food producers while protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient-dense foods. Learn more About Us or FTCLDF 2012 Summary.
Membership benefits include the possibility of representation in court; the Fund typically pays for all court costs. The Fund is not an insurance company and cannot guarantee representation on all legal matters. Your membership fees and donations help to keep local food sources available and preserve family farms facing unjust enforcement actions
Questions? Contact us by email at[email protected]or call 703-208-FARM (3276).
Please forward this alert to others who are concerned about protecting locally-sourced nutrient-dense foods and preserving sustainable small family farms and artisan food producers as well as defending the rights to sell and to access the foods of one's choice from the source of one's choice.
