Industry Teamwork Helps to Expand Grade A Processing Options at NCIMS

With assistance from more than 50 Milk Industry Foundation (MIF) members, IDFA successfully advocated more flexibility in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) for dairy processors at the biennial National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) conference in Salt Lake City earlier this month. As a result of industry teamwork and preparation, the NCIMS state delegates adopted 56 of the 105 submitted proposals to update the PMO and other NCIMS documents that directly affect state inspection of Grade A dairy farms and plants.

"The advanced groundwork and cooperation between IDFA staff, MIF members and state and FDA dairy regulators were instrumental in continuing to move the PMO toward a science-based document that maximizes processing flexibility, while maintaining public health safety," said IDFA Senior Vice President Clay Hough. "IDFA would like to thank the many MIF members who contributed their time and talents during the last year of preparation for this important event. This teamwork was the reason for success at this meeting."

Hough attended the meeting along with Cary Frye, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs and NCIMS program chair, and Allen Sayler, IDFA senior director of regulatory affairs.

Two MIF proposals were adopted, along with amendments for a number of other proposals. MIF proposed new technologies for treating ingredients added after pasteurization and separate ratings for plants that process both fluid and dry products.

At least six other proposals that would have placed unnecessary restrictions on the dairy industry were defeated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has until late August to accept the adopted proposals, and the changes will become official next year in October.

According to Hough, several major successes were achieved at NCIMS, most notably an agreement to give the Grade A definition committee six more months to determine whether non-standardized dairy products, such as smoothies, should be included under the PMO. The committee's final recommendations will be issued by a memo from FDA, then voted on by state dairy regulators. In a related move, Ray McCoy of Dean Foods was named co-chair of the committee.

The delegates also adopted the Grade A aseptic pilot program, which will combine aseptic requirements from the PMO and FDA's Low Acid Canned Food program to reduce duplication and conflicting standards. The pilot will run for two years under the oversight of a new NCIMS Aseptic Pilot Program Implementation Committee. This pilot will include 22 Grade A aseptic pilot plants, plus some international plants.

NCIMS agreed to extend the Grade A International Certification pilot program to evaluate whether private certifiers can be used instead of state regulators to effectively inspect and rate dairy farms and plants against Grade A standards. The program will be extended for two years, run under the oversight of the NCIMS International Certification Committee, and will use three private certifying companies to inspect and rate six international dairy plants.

In addition, NCIMS adopted 15 proposals that would increase options for dairy processing, such as approving additional methods to clean mix-proof valves while running product, using the same receiving equipment for Grade A and non-Grade A milk, expanding the use of plant-reclaimed water and open-tower water systems for cooling milk and milk products, and updating electronic record systems meeting guidelines.

The NCIMS Committee on Employee Health Requirements, established in 2005 based on an FDA proposal, was permanently adjourned at this meeting. This action effectively ends efforts to require Grade A dairy plants to report employee health issues to the state dairy authorities.

In addition to the proposals, the NCIMS Conference elected a new chairman, John Beers of the Virginia Department of Agriculture, and several board members. The new members Dan Borer, Nebraska Department.of Agriculture; Gary Cazaubon, Louisiana Department of Health; Sue Esser, Michigan Department of Agriculture; Lewis Jones, Ohio Department of Agriculture; Dave Lattan, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.; and Ron Schmidt, University of Florida.

IDFA is preparing a comprehensive member Hotline communication to explain the many changes approved by NCIMS. The Hotline will be distributed to IDFA members by the end of the month. For background information on the 105 proposals and IDFA's positions on each, click here.

IDFA encourages members to participate in any of the existing NCIMS standing committees as well as the new ad hoc NCIMS committee on dairy animal sharing. To participate or request more information on the conference, contact Sayler at asayler@idfa.org or (202) 220-3534, or Frye at cfrye@idfa.org or (202) 220-3544.