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MIF, NMPF Ask USDA to Hold Off on Class I Definition Hearing In a joint January 30 letter, the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to not hold a hearing at this time on proposed changes to the fluid milk product (Class I) definition. In a petition to USDA last summer, the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) requested a change that would expand the definition to include all milk and milk ingredients used in any beverage product, including several new milk-based drinks. MIF and NMPF believe that there is not enough data about the market impacts of these new products to warrant such a move at this time."More time is needed to study the nascent segment of the new milk-based drinks and other beverages containing milk before considering changes to Federal Milk Marketing regulations," the letter states. As reported last fall in News Update, USDA first planned to hold an emergency hearing on the DFA petition, even though the request did not seek emergency status. When USDA called for public comments on the emergency hearing, MIF requested last September that USDA delay action for one year to allow the industry to "develop a greater knowledge base" about these new products. Subsequently, USDA decided to decelerate the hearing's scheduling and extend the public comment period until January 30. To read the full letter to USDA, click here (.pdf). Posted February 2, 2004
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