The Saga Continues

Since our last web update a number of things have happened on the legal and political fronts.

• On April 25, 2008, Judge Tobias of the Superior Court in San Benito County granted a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the State of California’s enforcement of the coliform standard in AB1735.
• At a hearing on May 23rd Judge Tobias heard the State’s expert witnesses, one of whom said that raw milk was “nothing but witches brew.” The Judge’s ruling was that he could not grant a Preliminary Injunction because the state had a “rational basis” for passing the legislation in AB1735. He encouraged us to file an appeal and work with the legislature to create new law which would overturn AB1735. The TRO was extended to June 16th.
• Gary Cox, our attorney through the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), filed a brilliant “Motion to Reconsider” with the court and a week later, a “Motion to Appeal.”
• Senator Dean Florez together with Senator Don Perata has sponsored Senate Bill, SB201, The Fresh Milk Act of 2008 which calls for the following:

• More intensive pathogen testing.
• Each raw milk dairy will establish an individual “food safety plan” based on HACCP (Hazard Analysid Critical Control Point) principles.
• It will be illegal to outsource raw milk from an outside, non raw milk approved, dairy source.

Hearing in Sacramento expected to be scheduled mid to late June

*Check this website often to get updates on time and location of Sacramento hearing*

This bill will go through a process which begins with a hearing before the Assembly Ag Committee, chaired by Assemblywoman Nicole Parra. We are asking you to support us in Sacramento. Please make your plans to be there and show everyone that this fight is consumer, not producer driven.

We expect that there will be a lot of opposition to this Bill and pressure on the legislators. It is critical that you contact your legislators to let them know your position. It is particularly important if you have a close personal relationship with any of your legislators to let them know your passion with regard to your raw milk supply.

Also, please donate to the www.ftcldf.org. If SB 201 fails in the legislature, This will secure an appeal of the restraining order as we go forward to trial.