The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) late last month announced a new export certification program for U.S. foods. At this time, IDFA recommends that dairy exporters continue using the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) export certificate program.

“For now, continue relying on AMS to provide any certificates you need to get your products to international markets,” said Beth Hughes, IDFA senior director of international affairs. “This will ensure there are no disruptions in trade.”

Some trading partners require U.S. dairy companies to acquire sanitary certificates before they can export dairy products. AMS offers these certificates to dairy exporters.

Some foreign countries also use a facility list to identify U.S. manufacturers and processors that are eligible to ship dairy products to their countries. FDA maintains this list of dairy companies that ship dairy products to Chile, China, or the European Union (EU). FDA made no changes to the way the list is managed or the dairy companies that are included.

Members with questions may contact Hughes bhughes@idfa.org.