N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 258-p: Declaration of policy

§ 258-p. Declaration of policy. It is hereby declared: that the milk

industry is a paramount agricultural activity of this state and of the

northeast in a region comprising the New England states and the Middle

Atlantic states and is a business affecting the public health and

welfare of the inhabitants of this state and of the northeast; that the

production and marketing of milk of the dairy farms of this state and of

states in the northeast region is of vast economic importance to the

state and to the region; that compliance with reasonable requirements

for the production and marketing of a safe and high quality milk supply

is a matter of great importance both to the welfare of the dairy farmers

of this state and the northeast, and the health and welfare of the

consumers of milk and dairy products; that the production conditions in

the northeast including the climate, topography and soils are about the

same but marketing conditions are unique as compared to the remainder of

the United States in that practically all of the milk in the northeast

is produced for fluid markets because of the concentration of

population. The natural marketing area, under present conditions of

production and marketing, lies within the boundaries of the eleven

different states with widely different laws and regulations which govern

the economic climate and sanitary conditions under which milk and dairy

products are marketed. Artificial barriers have contributed

significantly to the loss of competitive position by New York and other

Northeastern states. The market share held by milk producers in the

region has declined. The marketing system for milk and dairy products in

the northeast has been and still is badly fragmented. Assembly,

administration, operating and sales costs are excessively high.

Cooperative membership is below that in most areas of the country.

Competition from other regions of the country will increase. A common

marketing area in the northeast is necessary for a prosperous and

growing dairy industry and it is in the best interest of consumers. It

is therefore essential that there be uniformity of laws and regulations

governing the production, processing and marketing of milk and dairy

products in the northeast. The lack of uniformity of laws and

regulations involving inspection of farms and plants, labeling of dairy

products and their imitations, standards for dairy products, licensing

of milk dealers and the terms of milk market orders have been a serious

deterrent to expanding markets for northeast dairy products and costly

to consumers.