Legislation sponsored by a local lawmaker to change how milk can be sold is one step closer to becoming law.
Senate Bill 434 sponsored by Republican State Senator Elder Vogel has been approved by both the state House and Senate.
Instead of the current 17-day sell-by date after pasteurization, milk producers would be able to apply for approval from the state Department of Agriculture using periodic testing requirements and laboratory standards.
“The reason this is so important, when surrounding states put out a request for proposal for milk, they want 18-20 days,” Vogel said. “With Pennsylvania’s 17 day limitation, our dairy processors are cut out of the process of bidding for other places that would sell milk.”
The bill next advances to the desk of Governor Tom Wolf who could sign it into law.