FINAL BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 5379

                          C 212 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Making major changes to milk and milk products regulations.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Agriculture (originally sponsored by Senators M. Rasmussen, Barr, Loveland, Hochstatter and Winsley; by request of Department of Agriculture)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Department of Agriculture regulates the production of milk and milk products in the state to protect consumers from unsafe products.  Dairies and dairy products are regulated under Chapter 15.32 RCW and fluid milk is regulated under Chapter 15.36 RCW.  These chapters are very similar in construction and each has a number of measures  which are outdated or which have been superseded by federal law.

SUMMARY:

Clarification is provided that the director may waive licensure requirements under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act if the facility is licensed by the department to conduct the same or similar operations under the state dairy product or fluid milk statutes.

Persons wishing to appeal decisions of the department follow the procedures set forth under the Administrative Procedure Act.  The separate appeal procedure under the fluid milk statutes is repealed.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    49   0

House     97   0    (House amended)

Senate    40   0    (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 25, 1993