Licensed raw milk is legal at retail stores and on farms in Washington State under WAC 16-149. Certified Grade A raw milk is available in health food stores, food cooperatives, and specialty retailers throughout the state.
Washington State authorizes retail and on-farm raw milk sales under Washington Administrative Code Chapter 16-149 (Grade A raw milk), administered by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). Producers must hold a WSDA raw milk permit and meet Grade A standards including herd health testing (tuberculosis, brucellosis), routine bacterial count and somatic cell count testing, sanitation requirements, and mandatory raw milk labeling. Washington permits licensed raw milk to be sold through licensed retail establishments as well as directly at the farm. Washington's raw milk regulatory framework is longstanding and has provided a stable foundation for a licensed retail market for many years.
Washington has a well-established retail raw milk market, particularly in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, Spokane, and the Puget Sound region. Licensed raw milk is carried by food cooperatives, health food stores, and specialty retailers throughout western and eastern Washington. Washington's strong natural food culture, active small farm community, and proximity to California's raw milk production network have contributed to a healthy supply chain. Washington consumers benefit from both licensed local producers and the distribution reach of larger licensed producers. The state has not been the subject of significant recent legislative controversy over raw milk access, as its licensed retail framework has been accepted by consumers, producers, and regulators as a workable approach to farm-to-consumer access.
Official government documents and legal resources for Washington
Retail Raw Milk includes fluid whole milk, hand-skimmed cream and milk which has been hand-skimmed. This means a plant cannot use a separator, homogenizer or any other mechanical device to separate raw cream from raw milk. Retail Raw Milk does not include chocolate or flavored milk, or cultured fluid milk (buttermilk). Retail Raw Milk cannot be used to produce other food products such as yogurt, butter, puddings, or ice cream.
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