FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, AUG. 31, 2007
| CONTACT: |
David McLeod, assistant commissioner
NCDA&CS
(919) 733-7125, ext. 238
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Board of Agriculture to vote on rule governing sale
of unpasteurized milk for pet food Sept. 7 in Fletcher
Vote on animal euthanasia rules postponed
RALEIGH – The N.C. Board of Agriculture will vote on a proposed rule governing the sale of unpasteurized milk for pet food Friday, Sept. 7, at the Hampton Inn in Fletcher. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public.
If approved, the rule would require anyone who sells unpasteurized milk for pet food to add a food coloring to the milk that would give it a charcoal gray color. In addition, the product label would have to carry the statement, “Not for Human Consumption.”
Selling unpasteurized milk for human consumption is illegal in North Carolina. Selling it for pet food is not. Food protection officials with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services say the rule would help keep unpasteurized milk out of the human food chain.
The board accepted public comments on the proposed rule earlier this year.
At the meeting, the board also will consider a request from the Small Grain Growers Association to conduct a referendum on continuing a half-percent assessment on sales of wheat, barley, oats, rye and grain sorghum. For the first time, the assessment also would apply to canola. The assessment would support research and development efforts for these crops. The assessment period would be three years for canola and six years for the other crops.
Board members will not take any action at this meeting on proposed rules to establish standards for euthanasia at animal shelters.The board held a public hearing on the proposed rules in July in Raleigh.Staff of the NCDA&CS Animal Welfare Section are reviewing the large number of comments received on the proposed rules, and will likely suggest changes that may require republication in the North Carolina Register and a new 60-day comment period. The current comment period ends Aug. 31.
The Board of Agriculture is a policy-making body that adopts regulations for many of the programs administered by the NCDA&CS. Its 10 members are appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture serves as chairman of the board.
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