To assure the consumers of the state milk products of at least standard quality, and to assure to the residents of Connecticut an adequate and regular supply of such milk at all times, the Milk Regulation Board shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, which may include, but not be limited to, definitions, standards of identity, production, transportation, processing, handling, sampling, examination, grading, labeling, regrading and sale of milk and milk products. The Milk Regulation Board may adopt regulations which incorporate by reference the provisions of the federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance promulgated by the United States Food and Drug Administration provided such regulations shall be consistent with any regulations adopted under section 22-211a, and further provided such regulations may by reference specifically incorporate any future amendment to said ordinance. The board may by regulation establish standards for inspection of the facilities and processes necessary for the production, handling, storage and manufacture of retail raw milk, retail raw milk cheese, butter, cheese, dry milk, whey, concentrated milk, condensed milk, single service fluid milk enclosures and milk products. In exercising its authority, the board shall consider (1) the welfare of the milk producer, the milk dealer and the consuming public, and the need to maintain a constant and adequate supply of fluid milk of at least standard quality; (2) the recommended methods promulgated by recognized authorities for the production, handling and transportation of fluid milk and milk products, and additional methods for the production, handling and transportation of milk and milk products; (3) the recommended methods promulgated by recognized authorities for dairy plant operations in the handling, storage, processing, bottling and labeling of all grades and types of milk, cream and milk products, together with the quality of the dairy products and materials, if any, used in the processing of such products; (4) the healthfulness and quality of all grades and types of milk, cream milk products, cheese and nonstandardized milk products, when said board may be guided by recommendations promulgated by recognized authorities on health and nutrition; (5) whether or not the various grades, such as grade A milk, and types, such as homogenized, pasteurized, vitamin D and vitamin-mineral-fortified milk, flavored milks, low-fat milk or skimmed milk, handled by a dealer, may be handled, processed, advertised, offered for sale or sold without false advertising, deception, fraud or misrepresentation; and (6) ingredient and nutrition labeling requirements, the necessity for clearly distinguishing retail raw milk, cheeses, nonstandardized milk products, whole milk, low-fat milk and skimmed milk in the labeling of such milk so as to prevent confusion, deception and misrepresentation.

(1949, 1951, S. 1755d, 1756d; 1961, P.A. 518, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 248; 1967, P.A. 163, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 3, S. 1; P.A. 83-587, S. 38, 96; P.A. 91-312, S. 5; P.A. 96-55, S. 1; P.A. 05-175, S. 5.)

History: 1961 act made issuance of regulations mandatory rather than optional by replacing “may” with “shall”, included low fat milk in Subdiv. (e) and added Subdiv. (f) requiring consideration of necessity for distinguishing between types of milk to prevent confusion, etc.; 1963 act required that regulations assure residents of adequate and regular milk supply, allowed board to establish standards for inspection of pasteurizing plants and farms and added Subdivs. (g) and (h) re economic considerations; 1967 act deleted reference to repealed Sec. 22-196 in Subdiv. (g); 1971 act made minor changes to Subdivs. (e) and (f) substituting “low-fat” for “low fat”, etc.; P.A. 83-587 deleted reference to Sec. 4-45; P.A. 91-312 divided section into Subsecs., amended Subsec. (a) to replace detailed provisions re the notice and hearing procedure for the issuance of regulations with requirement that the board “adopt” regulations “in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54”, provide that the regulations may include definitions and standards of identity, provide that standards for inspection of pasteurizing plants be established “by regulation”, redesignate former Subdivs. (a) to (h), inclusive, as Subdivs. (1) to (8), inclusive, respectively, replace “standard quality milk” with “fluid milk and milk products” and delete reference to milk “of a higher grade or special type” in Subdiv. (2), replace “milk, grade A or certified”, with “grade A milk”, in Subdiv. (5) and add Subdiv. (9) re sanitary standards, requirements and procedures recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and added Subsec. (b) requiring the regulations to ensure compliance with the health and sanitation provisions of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance; P.A. 96-55 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize adoption of regulations which incorporate future amendments to the federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance; P.A. 05-175 granted Milk Regulation Board authority to adopt regulations re milk, cheese and nonstandardized milk products, nutrition and labeling requirements, production, handling, storage and manufacturing facilities, deleted regulatory authority re pasteurizing plants and farms supplying such plants, standards for maintaining economic status of Connecticut producers, other economic considerations, and sanitary standards recommended by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, deleted former Subsec. (b) re compliance with Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and made technical changes.

Former statute cited. 111 C. 436.