B.__Notwithstanding any other provision of law and assuming reasonable similarity in quality, quantity, availability and price with other chicken products offered for sale, a state or school purchaser shall purchase chicken products only from a broker or wholesaler who annually submits an affidavit to the purchaser stating that the chicken products being supplied to the state or school purchaser have been produced without nontherapeutic use of antibiotics used in human medicine.

3.__Preference in purchasing turkey products. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and assuming reasonable similarity in quality, quantity, availability and price with other turkey products offered for sale, a state or school purchaser shall purchase turkey products only from a broker or wholesaler who annually submits an affidavit to the purchaser stating that the turkey products being supplied to the state or school purchaser have been produced without the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics and nontherapeutic use of antibiotics used in human medicine.

4.__ Preference in purchasing beef and pork products. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and assuming reasonable similarity in quality, quantity, availability and price with other beef or pork products offered for sale, state or school purchasers shall purchase beef and pork products only from a broker or wholesaler who annually submit an affidavit to the purchaser stating that beef and pork products being supplied to the state or school purchaser have been produced without nontherapeutic use of antibiotics used in human medicine.

5.__Encourage minimal use.__State or school purchasers shall work with Maine food producers and brokers and wholesalers to encourage minimal use for any purpose of antibiotics in animals raised for food to be consumed by humans.

SUMMARY

This bill inserts a policy statement in Maine statutes to discourage the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animals raised for food. It requires persons purchasing meat for Maine state institutions and Maine schools to notify brokers or wholesalers of this policy and to give preference in buying to those who can supply meat from animals that have not been given antibiotics for other than therapeutic reasons.