Raw milk on-farm sales were already legal in North Dakota. Now, a freshly signed law expands legalization to include raw milk products. This might include butter, kefir and more.
Raw milk and raw milk products
The broad category of “raw milk products” encompasses any food that can be made with raw milk. Butter is a raw milk product, along with kefir, soft cheese and others.
The State of North Dakota continues to prohibit raw milk sales in grocery stores and other off-farm retailers. States that have legalized retail raw milk sales include California, Washington and Pennsylvania – North Dakota won’t join them this legislative session.
Interstate raw milk sales are explicitly prohibited under the revised state law. This situation is mentioned in the article pointing out that Health Secretary RFK Jr can’t and won’t legalize raw milk in your state. All RFK Jr might be able to do is legalize interstate sales, whether or not he or his FDA commissioner Marty Makary will do so is uncertain. North Dakota farmers will remain prohibited by the state from commercial sales across state lines.
Labeling is required. Raw milk and raw milk products must be labeled as “raw milk” or “made with raw milk.”
Raw milk donations are also explicitly banned.
Revised raw milk law
Here’s the revised state law legalizing raw milk and raw milk products in North Dakota. (HB 1131 PDF)
4.1-25-40.1. Sale of raw milk or raw milk products directly to a consumer – Prohibitions -Exemptions.
1. A farm may sell raw milk or raw milk products directly to the end consumer in this state for personal consumption.
2. A farm may not sell raw milk or raw milk products to a wholesaler or retail store for mass consumption under this chapter. The seller shall may not sell raw milk or raw milk products outside this state. The sale may not involve interstate commerce. Raw milk or raw milk products may not be donated.
3. A farm selling raw milk or raw milk products under the provisions of this section is not subject to any other provision of this chapter, chapters 4.1-05, 4.1-26, 19-02.1, or 23-9, or title 64.
4. A farm selling raw milk or raw milk products shall label the products as “raw milk” or “made with raw milk”.
View more raw milk laws.
