- WVDA given authority under Legislative Rule 61CSR40
- Designed for smaller dairy farms that want to process their own milk and dairy products to sell locally.
- In-state sales only with all oversight done by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture
Dairy farm facilities, processing facilities and processes must be approved by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture prior to any construction or production of any products
- Based on the Grade “A” PM0 (Pasteurized Milk Ordinance) but has been modified for in state dairy processing allowing WVDA to regulate this part of the state’s dairy industry without FDA oversight
- Allows for hand milking
- Process milk into fluid bottled milk and other dairy products but it still MUST BE PASTEURIZED
- Sale of Raw milk is still prohibited unless you are working with the herd share program
There were several goals of this legislative rule including:
- Helping smaller dairy farms find a way to make and sell local dairy products so they could survive in the current dairy economy rather than sellout and go out of business
- Making it easier and less expensive to start a new dairy
- Recruiting new people and new ideas to the West Virginia Dairy Industry
- Making safe, local and wholesome West Virginia grown dairy products for the consumers in our state