Since 1948 the inspection of dairy farms, dairy plants, and other establishments wherein milk is produced, processed and distributed to the pubic has been a responsibility of the State Department of Agriculture and Immigration, but municipalities were also authorized to adopt ordinances on the same subject. This dual. responsibility worked satisfactorily for a number of years, but recently it became apparent that duplication of inspection was causing trouble. At the 1960 session of the General Assembly two bills were offered to end this : one of them would have fixed entire responsibility in the State Health Department and the other would have fixed entire responsibility in the Department of Agriculture. Neither passed, but the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution No. 59 which directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to make a study and report upon milk inspection with a view to recommending a plan whereby duplication of inspection might be avoided.

The Council assigned this study to John H. Daniel, member of the House of Delegates, Charlotte County, as Chairman of a committee to make the initial investigation and report. The following were appointed to serve on the Committee with Mr. Daniel: W. C. Elliott, member of the House of Delegates, Lebanon, Vice-Chairman; Ralph A. Beeton, Arlington; Parke C. Brinkley, Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration, Richmond; Curry Carter, member of the Senate of Virginia, Staunton; Waverly S. Green, dairyman, Crewe; John T. T. Hundley, Director of Public Health and Welfare, Lynchburg; Thomas E. Neale, Jr., milk distributor, Norfolk; Mack I. Shanholtz, State Health Commissioner, Richmond; and E. C. C. Woods, dairyman, Hanover. John B. Boatwright, Jr., and W. S. Kincheloe, Jr., served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Committee.

The Committee compiled considerable material concerning the facilities, personnel, services and functions of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health, including local health departments, in the field of milk inspection from the farm to the consumer. Data were obtained concerning the pattern of milk production and distribution throughout the State. After appropriate publicity, two public hearings were held, one in Richmond and one in Roanoke.

Generally, there were three points of view expressed at the hearings. Representatives of the dairy farms indicated that they desired responsibility for milk inspection from the farm to the consumer to be vested exclusively in the Department of Agriculture. Representatives of local health departments pointed out their responsibility for the production and distribution of pure and wholesome milk and recommended that such departments be given the responsibility for inspecting the production and distribution of milk and milk products.

Representatives of the dairy plants who appeared stated generally that they were opposed to duplicate inspection; they emphasized the need for uniform State-wide laws and regulations governing the production and distribution of milk and milk products. Instances were pointed out in which a milk product could be sold in one locality but not in another even though sanitary conditions in its production and processing met all requirements of the inspecting authority having jurisdiction; some localities were said to have adopted standards which, in their operation, prevented the distribution within such areas of milk products produced elsewhere in the State and which were pure and wholesome.

The Committee reviewed and carefully considered all the material made available to it, and deliberated upon the recommendations presented at the public hearings and elsewhere; and made its report to the Council. Having studied the report at length; and realizing· the importance of the dairy industry to the State of Virginia, the necessity of protecting the public health, and the interest of all in an economical and efficient means of ins}lring the production and distribution of a safe and wholesome-supply of milk and milk products, the Council makes the following recommendations.