Signed by Governor Tom Wolf

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes milk processors more leniency with milk date coding.

Highlights:

• Defines “sell by date” as a designation of the month and the day of the month after which the product may not be sold or offered for sale, in one of the following formats (Sec. 5743):

• Standard form;

• Numerically; or 

• With the use of an abbreviation.

• Requires one of the following to come before the sell by date on the cap or non-glass container (Sec. 5743):

• “Sell by”;

• “Not to be sold after”; or

• “Not to be sold after the date stamped above.”

• Defines “best by date” as a designation of the month and day of the month established by the milk plant as a product quality guideline, in one of the following formats (Sec. 5743):

• Standard form;

• Numerically; or 

• With the use of an abbreviation.

• Requires one of the following to come before the best by date on the cap or non-glass container (Sec. 5743):

• “Best by”;

• “Best if consumed by”; or

• “Best if used by.”

• Prohibits a sell by date or best by date from exceeding 17 days beginning after midnight on the day on which the milk was pasteurized, unless the department approves a longer interval (Sec. 5743).

• Exempts the following types of pasteurized milk from the 17 day sell by/best by requirements, provided that the cap or non glass container contains a lot number or manufacturing date code that is acceptable to the Department and can be traced in the marketplace (Sec. 5743):

• Ultrapasteurized milk;

• Cultured milk;

• Aseptically processed milk;

• Milk that has undergone higher heat, short time pasteurization; and 

• Milk sold or offered for retail sale on the same premises at which it was processed.

Full Bill Text