Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §543-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 175, §1, is amended to read:

2. Accepted processing methods. All cider sold, advertised, offered or exposed for sale must be heat treated, treated by ultraviolet light or pressed under a state-approved hazard and critical control plan unless the cider bears a warning label in accordance with subsection 3. A state-approved hazard and critical control plan must prohibit the pressing of apples for use in cider that have dropped from the trees for use in cider located on property where livestock and poultry, as defined in section 1302, subsection 3, are present. For the purposes of this section, "heat treated" means heated to a temperature of 155` Fahrenheit or higher for no more than 10 seconds.

SUMMARY

Current law prohibits the pressing of apples for use in cider if those apples have dropped from the trees.

This bill prohibits the pressing of apples that have dropped from trees for use in cider only if there is livestock or poultry present on the property.