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Raw Milk Allowed in W. Va. Through Agreements
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginians are now allowed to drink raw milk through animal-sharing agreements.
The law that was passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin went into effect Monday.
The law lets people strike agreements to share milk-producing animals and drink raw milk. It maintains a ban on selling or distributing raw milk.
People have to sign a document acknowledging the health risks before entering agreements. Animals need to have passed health tests within the last year.
Tomblin vetoed a similar bill last year. In his veto message, he wrote that the bill would pose a serious risk to public health, since raw milk can contain particularly dangerous bacteria for children, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.