Virginia dairy labeling bill

• A bill to define milk as the product of a cow or other hoofed mammals passed the Virginia House of Delegates with a vote of 66 to 32 last week.

• The bill stated that anything that does not meet its definition of milk — with the exception of human breast milk — would be misbranded. However, even if passed and signed into law, the bill would only take effect if it also is passed in 11 states in the Southern Dairy Compact, an industry group of 13 states working to preserve dairy farming and milk supply in the South. North Carolina passed a similar bill last year.

• The bill, proposed by pig farmer Del. Barry Knight, now goes to the Virginia Senate for consideration. A Senate version was introduced before the legislative session began by Sen. Bryce Reeves. No hearings have been scheduled.