The National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) will consider 100 proposals to change Grade A plant and farm regulations in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) at its biennial meeting, April 24-April 29, in Portland, Ore. These proposals affect all dairy plants producing Grade A products, such as fluid milk, cream products, yogurt, cottage cheese, eggnog, buttermilk and many dried dairy products.

IDFA has submitted two proposals. One would lower the allowable level of somatic cell counts in Grade A milk, and the other would permit the transfer of yogurt to a separate plant for retail or consumer packaging without requiring additional pasteurization.

Conference attendees will consider a set of proposals that seek to align the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). They also will debate the merits of several proposals that would modify the regulatory framework to expand the variety of drugs, other than beta-lactams, that should be tested for in raw milk.

IDFA member may login to read the full list of proposals here.

Cary Frye, IDFA vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, is this year's NCIMS program committee chair. Earlier this month, Frye joined Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president, and John Allan, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs and international standards, at a meeting with their counterparts from the National Milk Producers Federation to discuss the proposals and build consensus.

So far, 327 regulators and industry participants have registered to attend the conference. Visit the 2015 NCIMS Conference for registration and program details.