The 2017 National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) Conference, scheduled for May 12-17 in Grand Rapids, Mich., will draw regulators from all 50 states and Puerto Rico to vote on proposed changes to the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO). The NCIMS will tackle several important issues, including determining if additional changes are needed to harmonize the PMO with the preventive controls rules stemming from the Food Safety Modernization Act. Dairy industry representatives, including IDFA staff members, and officials from the Food and Drug Administration will also participate in conference discussions. 

“While the last conference made strides to ensure that the PMO would not conflict with the final preventive controls rule for human foods, now is the opportunity for IDFA and dairy companies making Grade ‘A’ products to advocate for any additional changes. Our goal is to help ensure the PMO and related ratings documents and procedures result in appropriate evaluation of milk plants’ food safety programs, in line with the final rule,” said John Allan, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs and international standards and one of IDFA’s subject matter experts on FSMA.

IDFA is soliciting proposals from member companies to submit to NCIMS for changes to the PMO and related Interstate Milk Shippers (IMS) documents. Changes that could be proposed might seek greater flexibility in production practices, allowing for product innovation or modern techniques, or could relate to other aspects of the PMO that companies find overly burdensome, not risk-based or out of date. The deadline for submitting draft proposals to IDFA is Dec. 19.  

To submit proposals to IDFA, contact Allan at jallan@idfa.org.