Stop IDPH from Issuing Any Raw Milk Regulations 
Send Comments & Attend Meeting May 1, 2013
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is in the process of drafting a regulation that would severely restrict consumer access and deny raw milk producers the ability to make a living.
Under current Illinois law, farmers can sell an unlimited amount of raw milk on the farm without a permit. .
The Dairy Group Committee is holding a meeting in Bloomington on May 1st to finish drafting the proposed regulation. Raw milk supporters need a huge turnout at the meeting to show IDPH the opposition to changing the raw milk law in Illinois.
Even if you've already contacted IDPH, please do so again and ask others to the same.
Under current Illinois law, farmers can sell an unlimited amount of raw milk on the farm without a permit.
The proposed regulation would prohibit producers from selling more than 100 gallons a month; in addition, it would require raw dairy farmers to comply with Grade A standards, costing farmers thousands of dollars to upgrade their dairy facility. Further, the regulation would ban herdshare agreements, even though Illinois law recognizes dairy livestock boarding contracts as being legal.
IDPH is proposing to change the law even though there have been no cases of foodborne illnesses attributed to the consumption of raw milk produced in Illinois going as far back as at least 1999.
|
TAKE ACTION - #1
Attend May 1st Meeting - NEW Location and Times
Due to the opposition to the proposed regulation, the meeting venue has been changed to accommodate a larger crowd. It's important to attend to let IDPH know how many people oppose what it's doing.
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday - May 1, 2013
Where: Illinois Corn Growers Association Building
14129 Carole Drive
Bloomington, IL 61705 [directions]
Why: Oppose any regulation that limits access to raw milk and hinders raw milk producers.
|
TAKE ACTION - #2
Email Comments to IDPH before May 1st
IDPH is limiting the public comment period at the meeting to just 10 members of the audience; so, it is important that you use the online form to email your comments in support of leaving the raw milk law the way it is regardless of whether you attend the meeting. See Talking Points below.
|
TAKE ACTION - #3
Contact Your Illinois State Legislators
Please copy your State Representative and State Senator a copy of your comments to IDPH. Some Illinois state legislators do not have an email address. If that is the case, please either fax or call their office to let them know about your opposition to the proposed regulation.
Need help finding your state legislators? Click here
|
|
TALKING POINTS
1. If it's not broke, don't fix it. The current laws are working. There have been no cases of foodborne illness attributed to any Illinois raw milk producers going at least as far back as 1999.
2. The regulation would have a devastating economic impact on Illinois raw milk producers with the 100-gallon limit. Consumers will no longer contribute to the state economy, instead spending their money with out-of-state raw milk producers.
3. The new regulations will cost money to enforce. Why is a state that's in terrible financial condition spending money on something that isn't a problem? State resources can be better spent elsewhere.
4. IDPH is exceeding its lawful powers; there is nothing in the law to allow it to limit the amount of raw milk producers can sell. The department is trying to ban herdshares with the proposed regulation despite Illinois statute recognizing dairy livestock boarding contracts as legal.
5. The proposed regulation will take away options on food choices from educated consumers. Many potential raw milk sources will not be able to stay in business with the 100-gallon limit.
|
MORE INFORMATION
IDPH has charged the Dairy Group Committee (formerly called, Raw Milk Steering Committee; a subcommittee of the Illinois Food Safety Committee) with drafting the proposed raw milk regulation.
The subcommittee is stacked with people from the conventional dairy industry and the Department of Public Health that are totally opposed to raw milk. An IDPH official admitted that the department is trying to have these proposed changes become law through rulemaking because the Illinois Legislature would never pass what IDPH wants to do.
While IDPH is trying to limit how much raw milk producers can sell, the Illinois Department of Agriculture is promoting the "Illinois Product Challenge" encouraging residents to buy more of their food from Illinois producers [see the press release at www.agr.state.il.us/newsrels/r0726121.html].
For more information and to print flyer, visit www.farmtoconsumer.org/action
|
Finding Your Illinois State Legislators
The contact information for your legislators can be found using the election map at
1. Go to http://gis.elections.il.gov/map_viewer_update/default.aspx2. Click on "OK" in the "Illinois State Board of Elections" box. 3. Enter your street address in the "Search for Districts/Officials" field at the upper left (you may have to scroll up). You should be able to see the four gray boxes depicted below.
 After you enter your street address including zip code ( best to use the 9-digit code if you know it), click on "Search". Scroll down to "Search Results" and click on "More Details" for your State Senator and then for your State Representative. The "More Details" box will appear with contact information for your respective legislators. If you need more information about your legislator, you can find it below. State Senator, go to www.ilga.gov/senate State Representative, go to www.ilga.gov/house
|
|
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. 
|
