97.17 Buttermaker and cheesemaker license.
(1) In this section the terms “buttermaker" and “cheesemaker" mean a person employed or who may be employed in a butter or a cheese factory who has charge of and supervision over the actual process of manufacturing butter or cheese, and shall not include a person employed in a butter or cheese factory for the purpose of assisting in the manufacture of such product. This section shall not affect a person making up a product produced on the person's farm, nor shall it be unlawful for a licensed cheesemaker employed in a licensed cheese factory to make butter or whey cream butter for the use or consumption only of the patrons thereof.
(2) No person shall engage as a buttermaker or cheesemaker unless the person has a license from the department. The license shall be issued by the department under regulations that the department shall prescribe relating to the qualifications of applicants for licenses. The qualifications shall include the applicant's record in operating and keeping in sanitary condition the butter or cheese factory in which the applicant has been employed.
(3) Application for a buttermaker's or cheesemaker's license shall be made upon a form furnished by the department. Upon receipt of the application the department shall issue a permit to the applicant to carry on the work of a buttermaker or cheesemaker. The permit shall have the force and effect of a license to a buttermaker or cheesemaker until a license shall have been issued to the applicant or until the applicant shall have been notified of the denial of the application. At the time that the permit is issued, the department shall furnish the applicant with the regulations incident to securing a license and also suggestions relating to the proper method of operating butter or cheese factories.
(4) Each application for a license shall be accompanied by a fee that is $50 unless otherwise established by department rule, except that an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44 is not required to pay a fee.
(6) The license shall expire on the first day of January of the 2nd year commencing after the date of issuance or renewal. Renewal applications shall be submitted on department forms and be accompanied by the biennial license fee under sub. (4).
History: 1977 c. 216; 1979 c. 342; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 174; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 225; 2011 a. 209.