MIF Opposes Emergency Hearing on Amending Class I Definition

In September 19 comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), MIF outlined its opposition to USDA holding an emergency hearing to address the fluid milk product (Class I) definition in the Federal Milk Marketing Orders. USDA is now examining all public comments on Dairy Farmers of America's (DFA) recent proposal to amend the Class I definition to include all products "intended to be consumed in fluid form," aimed at the new milk-based drinks that have been introduced in the market. Upon receiving DFA's petition, USDA issued a call for proposals for an emergency hearing to address the issue.

In its comments, MIF suggested that USDA delay action for one year so that the industry can "develop a greater knowledge base" about these new products and "understand the competitive relationship" between traditional fluid milk products and the new products.

"These new milk-based and milk-containing products are new, with little market experience to inform us of either their acceptance by consumers or their market position relative to other beverages," stated MIF President and CEO E. Linwood Tipton in the letter. "This information and knowledge of market impacts is important to have prior to making wholesale changes to the definition of fluid milk product that has remained the same since the 1970s."

In fact, DFA is not seeking an emergency hearing in its original petition. Tipton noted that "no conditions exist to warrant addressing this issue on an emergency basis" at this time. To read MIF's full comments to USDA (.pdf), click here.

Posted September 22, 2003