WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE

P. O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707-7882

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30th, 2010

CONTACT: Representative Chris Danou (608)-266-7015

Wisconsin State Senate Passes Bi-Partisan Unpasteurized

Milk Bill
Bill Passes Senate 25-8, Vote expected in State Assembly Next Week
MADISON – The Wisconsin State Senate passed legislation today that will allow for the limited sale of raw or
unpasteurized milk. The bill was authored by Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Representative Chris Danou
(D-Trempealeau) and includes an amendment drafted in cooperation with State Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls).
The bill passed both the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education by a unanimous vote and the Assembly
Committee on Rural Economic development on an 8-1 bi-partisan vote last month.

“I want to thank the members of the Wisconsin State Senate,” said Danou. “I applaud my colleagues in the Senate,
including Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker-(D-Weston) for his strong leadership on this bi-partisan compromise bill.
Ultimately this outcome was about rural economic development and I want to thank the Senate members for voting in
support of family farmers who have found a way to add value to their businesses.”

The compromise bill approved by the Wisconsin State Senate outlines conditions under which farmers will be able to
sell unpasteurized milk. Farmers will be required to obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and
Consumer Protection and adhere to regular testing in order to sell the product. In addition, every bottle must be clearly
labeled as unpasteurized and include both the producer’s name and license number and all sales must be done on site,
rather than through stores or distributors.

“This vote is a major victory for the right of the informed consumer to make their own choices,” said Kreitlow, who is
Senate author of the bill. “The passage of the bill will go a long way towards eliminating the black market of illegal raw
milk sales that exists as well as addressing the public health concerns that come with it.”

The vote in support of on-site Raw Milk sales comes as Wisconsin’s family farmers are recovering from a difficult
economic period and from some of the lowest milk prices in recent memory. “The State Senate’s 25-8 vote in favor of
the Unpasteurized Milk bill show not only strong bi-partisan support but also that the bill has support in both urban and
rural areas of the state.” said Rep. Danou.

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