An Act To Reduce Regulations for Small Nonalcoholic Beverage Producers
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1409
Committee Amendment CA_A_S110 (Senate)
Amends: 32 MRSA §1854

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "I\ " to S.P. 487, L.D. 1409, Bill, "An Act To 
Reduce Regulations for Small Nonalcoholic Beverage Producers" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation removes a statutory barrier that currently prevents 
entrepreneurs from opening new nonalcoholic beverage manufacturing and bottling 
businesses in the State, which causes Maine to lose the economic benefit that these new 
businesses can provide; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 4-A in the 2nd line (page 1, line 4 in L.D.) 
by striking out the following: 
1150,000
and inserting the following: '10,000' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in § 1852 in the 2nd indented paragraph by striking out all 
of the last sentence (page 1, lines 23 and 24 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 'A small 
beverage producer may wash and fill glass beverage containers by hand and carbonate 
beverages by hand if all other requirements of this section are met.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 3 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1854, as amended by PL 1977, c. 696, §242; PL 1979, c. 731, 
§ 19; and PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §6, is further amended to read: 
§1854. Cleaning of containers 
All reusable glass containers used in the manufacture of beverages shall must, before 
being filled or refilled, be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized by washing in an automatic 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 487, L.D. 1409 
v,ashing maohine in a solution of not less than 3% caustic alkali, at a temperature not 
lower than 110° Fahrenheit to be followed by a rinsing in potable water. All other 
reusable and all single service containers shall must be cleaned and sanitized before being 
filled or refilled by suitable means approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry.' 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited m the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. 
Unlike the bill, which applies to producers that manufacture or bottle no more than 
50,000 gallons of beverages annually, the amendment gives small nonalcoholic beverage 
producers that manufacture or bottle no more than 10,000 gallons of beverages annually 
flexibility in the method by which they clean and sanitize reusable glass beverage 
containers, as long as they use the required 3 % caustic alkali sanitizing solution. The 
amendment also permits small nonalcoholic beverage producers to bottle and carbonate 
their products by hand, rather than through the use of machinery, as long as all other 
sanitary requirements are met. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/12/17 feac 
LD 1409 
LR 1840(02) 
An Act To Reduce Regulations for Small Nonalcoholic Beverage Producers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ";,:.._ ( S:- \ l Q) 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill will allow small nonalcoholic beverage prnducers that produce under 10,000 gallons annually to utilize 
alternative sanitization. and carbonation methods so long as certain sanitary standards are met. Any additional costs to 
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry as a result of allowing the alternative methods are 
anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1840(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1