SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2628

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

  Agriculture & Rural Economic Development, February 23, 2000

Title:  An act relating to colostrum milk.

Brief Description:  Modifying prohibitions on colostrum milk.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Linville and G. Chandler).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Rural Economic Development:  2/23/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Gardner, Honeyford, Morton, Prentice, Snyder, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  David Johnson (786-7754)

Background:  Colostrum milk is the first milk produced by a mother mammal after giving birth.  It is rich in essential amino acids, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies that are important to the newborn's growth and immunity.

It is unlawful to sell or deliver colostrum milk for consumption by humans.  However, it is legal to provide colostrum milk from cows to persons with multiple sclerosis.  The colostrum milk provided for this purpose must be from a cow that was tested for brucellosis within 60 days of calving.

Summary of Bill:  It is legal to sell or deliver the colostrum milk of any mammal from a licensed producer that has been or will be processed by a licensed food processor or a milk processing plant as a nutritional supplement.  The colostrum milk used for this purpose must be heat pasteurized or otherwise treated to kill harmful organisms.

Colostrum milk need no longer come from brucellosis tested cows.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  There is growing interest in the possible positive effects for humans of colostrum consumption.  Colostrum is sold in a powder form as a nutritional supplement.  It is currently being imported and as a market develops Washington producers should be allowed to produce and sell it.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Darcy Wiebe, LaBelle Associates, Inc.; Mary Beth Lang, Department of Agriculture.