Agricultural Marketing Service
 
USDA Issues Recommended Decision on Amendments to All Milk Or
 
Release No. 050-06
Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998
becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

 
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2006 – The U. S. Department of Agriculture today issued a recommended decision to amend the Class I fluid milk product definition for all federal milk marketing orders. The decision was based on the record of a hearing held June 20-23, 2005, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

 
Specifically, the decision recommends maintaining the current 6.5 percent nonfat milk solids criteria and incorporating an equivalent 2.25 percent true protein criteria in determining if a product meets the fluid milk product definition. It also proposes to clarify how milk and milk-derived ingredients should be priced under all orders.

 
USDA is also proposing that, regardless of packaging, “drinkable” yogurt products containing at least 20 percent yogurt, keifir and products designed to be meal replacements be exempted from the fluid milk product definition.

 
The recommended decision will be published in the May 17 Federal Register. Public comments are due July 17, 2006 and should be sent to the Hearing Clerk, Stop 9200, Room 1031, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9200. Comments may also be submitted at the Federal E-Rulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov or through e-mail to amsdairycomments@usda.gov.

 
For additional information about the decision, contact:

 
Northeast: Erik F. Rasmussen
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
P.O. Box 51478, Boston, MA 02205-1478
Tel. (617) 737-7199; email: erasmussen@fedmilk1.com

 
Appalachian: Harold H. Friedly, Jr.
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
P.O. Box 18030, Louisville, KY 40261-0030
Tel. (502) 499-0040; email: friedly@malouisville.com

 
Florida and Southeast: Sue L. Mosley
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
P.O. Box 491778, Lawrenceville, GA 30049
Tel. (770) 682-2501; email: smosley@fmmatlanta.com

 
Upper Midwest: H. Paul Kyburz
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
Suite 210, 4570 West 77th St., Minneapolis, MN 55435-5037
Tel. (952) 831-5292; email: pkyburz@fmma30.com

 
Central: Robert E. Vander Linden USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
P.O. Box 14650, Shawnee Mission, KS 66285-4650
Tel. (913) 495-9300; email: vanderlinden@fmmacentral.com

 
Mideast: David Z. Walker
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
P.O. Box 5102, Brunswick, OH 44212
Tel. (330) 225-4758; email: dwalker@fmmaclev.com

 
Pacific Northwest and Arizona-Las Vegas: James R. Daugherty
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
1930-220th St., SE., Suite 102 Bothell, WA 98021-8471
Tel. (425) 487-6009; email: jdaugherty@fmmaseattle.com

 
Southwest: J. Richard Fleming
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
P.O. Box 110939, Carrollton, TX 75011-0939
Tel. (972) 245-6060; email: sw.order@dallasma.com