For decades, the National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) has served as a model cooperative program between the U.S. Public Health Service/Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the states, and the dairy industry. NCIMS brings together all dairy stakeholders to maintain and update the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which provides uniform regulations for the dairy industry.
The 39th National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments met April 11 to 16 in Minneapolis, Minn., to deliberate many important issues facing the FDA’s National Grade A Milk Program and the PMO. Delegates representing 49 states and Puerto Rico attended, along with representatives from the FDA and industry organizations. Attendees reviewed and discussed 81 different proposals for changes to the PMO, eight of which were submitted by National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) on behalf of its members.
The conference provides a unique forum for the industry and its regulators to come together. Sometimes the most valuable advances at the conference do not come from the proposals that pass but from issues that are raised for conference-wide attention.
One issue NMPF brought forward at the conference was the confusion caused by the “Dear Veterinarian Letter” the FDA published October 11 regarding the use of aspirin products in lactating dairy cattle. In the letter, the FDA stated that veterinarians and dairy farmers should stop the use of unapproved aspirin in lactating dairy cattle and use FDA-approved products to control pyrexia and pain. This letter has perplexed the industry for the past six months, so NMPF used the conference as an opportunity to gain clarity from the FDA on its position and ensure that federal regulators are on the same page as the states and industry. Though the proposal that NMPF submitted didn’t pass, NMPF is pleased that the issue was thoroughly discussed and that NCIMS voted in favor of creating a study committee to engage the FDA, USDA, industry, and other appropriate stakeholders in exploring drug and chemical storage requirements and the administrative procedures for unapproved animal drugs, homeopathic/all natural drugs, and medical devices.
NMPF also had favorable outcomes for other proposals it submitted, including a proposal clarifying language around animal treatment record requirements and a proposal updating the rules for cleaning on-farm bulk tanks to be consistent with the rules for bulk milk hauling trucks and trailers.
Leaders from NMPF and its member cooperatives are very involved in NCIMS, and many serve on the NCIMS executive board or on committees between conferences. Brad Suhling of Prairie Farms was elected to the open industry from the central region for the NCIMS board. Suhling previously served on the Single Service Committee, and that vacancy will be filled by Charlie Mack (Prairie Farms). Amanda Rife (Land O’ Lakes) was elected the open industry from the eastern region for the NCIMS board and will serve as chair for Council I, Dave Kedzierski (United Dairymen of Arizona) will serve as the chair for Council II, Damon Miller (Dairy Farmers of America) will continue his term as the chair for Council III, and Clay Detlefsen will continue to serve in the NMPF staff representative seat. Finally, by unanimous vote, Antone Mickelson (Darigold/Northwest Dairy Association) will continue as vice chair of NCIMS executive board.
This year, attendees at NCIMS also celebrated the centennial of the PMO in 2024. The FDA ran a campaign throughout the past year to showcase what 100 years of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance has done for milk safety in the United States. Other industry partners also celebrated the centennial in different ways, including an award-winning feature story in New York Archives and a deep dive about the PMO in the “Food Safety Matters” podcast.
Protecting milk quality and safety is crucial for public health. The PMO has done that effectively for 100 years, and with continued collaboration through NCIMS, it will continue for many more.
