§ 25-5.5-117 — Raw milk

Colorado § 25-5.5-117

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 25: Public
• Art.: Dairy Products, Imitation Dairy Products,

Text

(1) The acquisition of raw milk from cows or goats by
a consumer for use or consumption by the consumer shall not constitute the sale of
raw milk and shall not be prohibited if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The owner of a cow, goat, cow shares, or goat shares shall receive raw
milk directly from the farm or dairy where the cow, goat, or dairy herd is located
and the farm or dairy is registered pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. A
person who is the owner of a cow share or goat share in a cow, goat, or dairy herd
may receive raw milk on behalf of another owner of the same cow, goat, or dairy
herd. A person who is not an owner of a cow share or goat share in the same cow,
goat, or dairy herd shall not receive raw milk on behalf of the owner of a cow share
or goat share.

(b) The milk is obtained pursuant to a cow share or a goat share. A cow share
or a goat share is an undivided interest in a cow, goat, or herd of cows or goats,
created by a written contractual relationship between a consumer and a farmer
that includes a legal bill of sale to the consumer for an interest in the cow, goat, or
dairy herd and a boarding contract under which the consumer boards the cow, goat,
or dairy herd in which the consumer has an interest with the farmer for care and
milking, and under which the consumer is entitled to receive a share of milk from
the cow, goat, or dairy herd.

(c) A prominent warning statement that the milk is not pasteurized is
delivered to the consumer with the milk or is displayed on a label affixed to the milk
container; and

(d) Information describing the standards used by the farm or dairy with
respect to herd health, and in the production of milk from the herd, is provided to
the consumer by the farmer together with results of tests performed on the cows or
goats that produced the milk, tests performed on the milk, and an explanation of
the tests and test results.

(2) Registration of a farm or dairy as required by paragraph (a) of subsection
(1) of this section shall be accomplished by delivering to the Colorado department
of public health and environment a written statement containing:

(a) The name of the farmer, farm, or dairy;

(b) A valid, current address of the farmer, farm, or dairy; and

(c) A statement that raw milk is being produced at the farm or dairy.

(3) Retail sales of raw, unpasteurized milk shall not be allowed. Resale of
raw milk obtained from a cow share or goat share is strictly prohibited. Raw milk
that is not intended for pasteurization shall not be sold to, or offered for sale at,
farmers' markets, educational institutions, health-care facilities, nursing homes,
governmental organizations, or any food establishment.

(4) No person who, as a consumer, obtains raw milk in accordance with this
section shall be entitled to sell or redistribute the milk.

(5) No producer of raw milk shall publish any statement that implies
approval or endorsement by the Colorado department of public health and
environment.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 365, � 1, effective April 22.