State-by-State* Review of Raw Milk Laws
- Retail Sale Legal
- Farm Sales Legal
- Herd Shares Legal by Statute, Regulation or Court Decision
- No Law on Herd Shares**
- Legal as Pet Food
- Raw Milk Sales Illegal
February 10, 2017
State-by-State* Review of Raw Milk Laws
* Other forms of raw milk distribution may also be allowed in any particular state.
** There is no law either legalizing or prohibiting herd shares. State is aware herd share programs currently exist and has taken no action to try to stop them.
Copyright © 2010-2017 Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund farmtoconsumer.org. The map is the property of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. This map may not be reproduced or altered without the express, written permission of FTCLDF and if permission is granted all reproductions must cite FTCLDF as the source of the original material. This map is not intended to be used as or construed as legal advice.
BY STATE – LEGALITY OF RAW MILK SALES/DISTRIBUTION
Visit the interactive Raw Milk Nation Map© above and at farmtoconsumer.org/map
| Category | States | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Retail sales legal These states allow sales in retail stores and require a permit which also allows for sales on/off farm and at farmers markets. |
AZ
CA CT ID
ME NH NM
OR* PA SC
WA |
* goat & sheep milk only |
| Licensed on-farm sales legal |
IL
MA MO4,6 NY
SD4 TX UT*
WI |
* sales legal at retail store if producer has majority ownership in store |
| Unlicensed on-farm sales legal |
AR3
KS MN MS1,2
MO4 NE NH3,4,6
OK3* OR1 VT3,4
WY4,6 |
* limit on volume of goat milk sales |
| Herdshares/Cowshares legal by statutea, regulationb, court decisionc, or written policyd |
AKb
COa* CTa IDa* MId
NDa OHc TNa,8 UTa
WVa WYb* |
* farms operating share programs must register with the state |
| Sale of raw milk for human consumption illegal |
AL7,8
DE FL8 GA8 HI
IN7,8 IA KY2,5,7 LA
MD8 MT NV* NJ
NC8 RI2,5 VA7 |
* requires County Milk Commission (CMC) approval; only Nye County has a CMC but has not approved any dairies yet
|
Superscript Key:
- Limit number of lactating animals
- Only sale of goat milk legal
- Limit on sales volume
- Delivery legal
- By doctor’s prescription only
- Sale at farmers markets legal
- No law on herdsharesA
- Sale of raw pet milk legal
A There is no law either expressly legalizing or prohibiting
herd shares; state is aware herdshare programs currently
exist and has taken no action to try to stop them.
February 10, 2017
Copyright © 2010-2017 Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund www.farmtoconsumer.org. The chart is the property of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. This chart may not be reproduced or altered without the express, written permission of FTCLDF, and if permission is granted, all reproductions must cite FTCLDF as the source of the original material. This chart is not intended to be used as or construed as legal advice.
Raw milk laws are a hodgepodge in this country; due mainly to the federal ban on raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce, the laws are different state to state. This chart goes into more detail than the Raw Milk Nation Map by summarizing the specific laws for each state. If there is a stated legal limit on the number of lactating animals producing milk or the volume of milk sold each month, the chart will reflect that.
The sale of raw pet milk is legal in just about every state if the producer has a commercial feed license or its equivalent or has otherwise fulfilled state requirements to sell pet milk. Most states, however, will not issue commercial feed licenses for the sale of raw pet milk. The chart shows only those states where it is known that raw milk producers have received permits or otherwise are in compliance with the law.
The raw milk laws have changed in a number of states this past year; if there have been any other changes to state raw milk laws not shown in the chart, please contact the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund by email at info@farmtoconsumer.org or call 703-208-3276.