An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0363
Committee Amendment CA_A_H346 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §1862

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fj" to RP, 289, L.D, 
Facilitate Local Food Production" 
363, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1862, sub-§l, as amended by PL 2009, c. 110, §I, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Beverage. "Beverage" means beer, ale or other drink produced by fennenting 
malt, spirits, wine, hard cider, wine coolers, soda or noncarbonated water and all 
nonalcoholic carbonated or noncarbonated drinks in liquid fonn and intended for internal 
human consumption, except for unflavored rice milk, unflavored soymilk, milk arui~ 
dairy-derived products, apple cider and drinks containing 25% or more by volume of 
juice from wild blueberries. 
Sec. 2. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to review 
regulation of food production. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources shall review state laws and rules pertaining to the small-scale production and 
processing of food and beverages in the State for sale in the State, The department shall 
develop recommendations to reduce the regulatory burden on small-scale agricultural 
producers and small-scale food processors. For purposes of this legislation a small-scale 
agricultural producer or small-scale food processor is one who employs 10 or fewer 
people. The department may further define "small-scale agricultural producers" and 
"small-scale food processors" or other telIDS appropriate for clarifying to whom the 
exemptions and less burdensome standards would apply. The department shall report its 
findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry no later than February 1, 2012. The department concurrently 
shall submit legislation necessary to implement its recommendations to the Second 
Regular Session of the 125th Legislature.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
t\ Of S 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'fl" to H.P. 289, L.D. 363 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. 
It exempts apple cider and juice drinks 
containing 25% or more by volume of juice from wild blueberries from the provisions of 
the beverage container law in Title 32, chapter 28. The bill proposes exempting fruit and 
juice beverages produced in Maine by agricultural producers from the provisions of the 
beverage container law. 
It also narrows the scope of the directive to the Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources to review laws and rules for their impact on small-scale food producers 
and small-scale food processors only. It extends the time period allowed for the 
department to complete its review. 
FISCAL SOTE REQURED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: OS/24111 
;t!Qac 
LD363 
LR 809(02) 
An Act To Facilitate Local Food Production 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A" 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources associated with reviewing laws and 
regulations specified in the bill, developing recommendations and reporting results can be absorbed with existing staff 
and within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0809(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1