The board must regulate unfair trade practices in milk sales, and handlers, processors, and distributors must not refuse milk because a producer is tied to a cooperative association, except for milk that fails sanitary requirements.
§4108. Disruptive trade practices A. Unfair methods of competition, unfair or deceptive acts or practices and disruptive trade practices are hereby declared unlawful with respect to the sale of milk and milk products. B. The board is hereby empowered and directed to prevent persons, partnerships and corporations from using unfair methods of competition, unfair or deceptive acts or practices and disruptive trade practices in the sale of milk and milk products, and the board, after notice and hearing, shall promulgate rules and regulations implementing the policy and purposes of this Subpart and defining with specificity acts and practices in the sale of milk and milk products which are unfair methods of competition, unfair or deceptive acts or practices and disruptive trade practices and providing for the investigation of complaints thereunder and the enforcement thereof. Such rules and regulations so promulgated shall not be in derogation of or inconsistent with the provisions of Parts IV, VI and VIII of Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. C. The adoption, issuance, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation provided for in this Section shall be accomplished in accord with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950, et seq. D. No handler, processor or distributor shall refuse to accept or discontinue to receive milk from a milk producer as a result of such producer's affiliation with a cooperative association or as a result of activities engaged in by such cooperative association or efforts to organize a producer association; provided this provision shall not apply to milk which is not produced in compliance with sanitary requirements of the Louisiana Health and Human Resources Administration. E. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the donation of ice cream and/or frozen desserts to nonprofit charitable groups, organizations, institutions or any other such entities. F. The dock method of distribution is defined as the distribution of milk and milk products at the processor's plant to distributors and retailers. The dock method of distribution of milk and milk products shall not be unlawful as it applies to the provisions of this Subpart. Added by Acts 1974, No. 31, §1. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 695, §1; Acts 1985, No. 75, §1.