[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46399-46421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18987]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 146 / Friday, July 28, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 46399]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. DA-98-02]


United States Standards for Grades of Dry Whole Milk

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting 
comments on its proposal to change the United States Standards for 
Grades of Dry Whole Milk. AMS is proposing changes that would: (1) 
Lower the maximum bacterial estimate for U.S. Extra Grade from not more 
than 50,000 per gram to not more than 10,000 per gram and for U.S. 
Standard Grade from not more than 100,000 per gram to not more than 
50,000 per gram, (2) reference the Food and Drug Administration's 
standards of identity for dry whole milk, (3) incorporate a maximum 
titratable acidity requirement for U.S. Extra Grade and U.S. Standard 
grade, (4) delete specific provisions for Dry Whole Milk produced by 
roller process, (5) include protein content as an optional test, (6) 
relocate information concerning the optional oxygen content 
determination and, (7) expand the test methods section to allow product 
evaluation using methods included in Standard Methods for the 
Examination of Dairy Products, in the Official Methods of Analysis of 
the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, and in standards 
developed by the International Dairy Federation. These changes are 
being proposed to strengthen the quality requirements of these 
standards to reflect improvements that have occurred in dry whole milk 
quality since the Standards were last reviewed. AMS is also proposing 
editorial changes to provide consistency with other dry milk standards. 
USDA grade standards are voluntary standards. Manufacturers of dairy 
products are free to choose whether or not to use these voluntary grade 
standards. USDA grade standards have been developed to identify the 
degree of quality in various dairy products. Quality in general refers 
to usefulness, desirability, and value of the product or its 
marketability as a commodity.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to: Duane R. Spomer, 
Chief, Dairy Standardization Branch, Dairy Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2746, South 
Building, Stop 0230, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; faxed 
to (202) 720-2643; or, e-mailed to [email protected]. Comments 
should reference the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register. All comments received will be made available for public 
inspection at the above address during regular business hours. The 
current U.S. Standards for Grades of Dry Whole Milk, along with the 
proposed changes, are available either through the above address or by 
accessing, AMS Home Page on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/dairy/stand.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Talari Jude, Dairy Products Marketing 
Specialist, Dairy Standardization Branch, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Room 
2746-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; (202) 720-7473.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203 (c) of the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary 
of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, 
condition, quantity, grade, and packaging and recommend and demonstrate 
such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in 
commercial practices * * *''. AMS is committed to carrying out this 
authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural 
commodities and will make copies of official standards available upon 
request. The United States Standards for Grades of Dry Whole Milk no 
longer appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are maintained by 
USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs.
    When dry whole milk is officially graded, the USDA regulations (7 
CFR part 58) governing the grading of manufactured or processed dairy 
products are used. These regulations require a charge for the grading 
service provided by USDA. The Agency believes this proposal would 
accurately identify quality characteristics in dry whole milk.
    AMS is proposing to change the United States Standards for Grades 
of Dry Whole Milk using the procedures that appear in part 36 of title 
7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
    The current United States Standards for Grades of Dry Whole Milk 
have been in effect since May 13,1983. AMS initiated a review of this 
Standard and discussed possible changes with the dairy industry. The 
American Dairy Products Institute, a trade association representing the 
dry whole milk industry, provided specific suggestions, including a 
recommendation to lower the maximum bacterial estimate.

Proposed by the American Dairy Products Institute

    The American Dairy Products Institute provided suggestions to:
     Lower the maximum bacterial estimate for U.S. Extra Grade 
from not more than 50,000 per gram to not more than 10,000 per gram;
     Lower the maximum bacterial estimate for U.S. Standard 
Grade from not more than 100,000 per gram to not more than 50,000 per 
gram; and
     Expand the definition of dry whole milk to specify 
optional ingredients that may be added to dry whole milk.

Proposed by Dairy Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service

    AMS is proposing to:
     Lower the maximum bacterial content requirements as 
suggested by the American Dairy Products Institute;
     Reference the Food and Drug Administration's standards of 
identity for dry whole milk to provide for optional ingredients as 
suggested by the American Dairy Products Institute;
     Incorporate a maximum titratable acidity requirement for 
U.S. Extra Grade and U.S. Standard Grade;
     Delete specific provisions for dry whole milk produced by 
roller process;
     Include protein content as an optional test;
     Reference additional test methods that may be used to 
determine U.S. grade;

[[Page 46400]]

     Include provisions to report actual moisture which is 
moisture calculated on a residual or as is basis; and
     Make editorial changes that would provide consistency with 
other U.S. grade standards for dairy products.
    This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on proposed revisions to the standards. The 
following is an outline of these changes.
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

[[Page 46401]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.000


[[Page 46402]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.001


[[Page 46403]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.002


[[Page 46404]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.003


[[Page 46405]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.004


[[Page 46406]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.005


[[Page 46407]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.006


[[Page 46408]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.007


[[Page 46409]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.008


[[Page 46410]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.009


[[Page 46411]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.010


[[Page 46412]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.011


[[Page 46413]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.012


[[Page 46414]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.013


[[Page 46415]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.014


[[Page 46416]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.015


[[Page 46417]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.016


[[Page 46418]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.017


[[Page 46419]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.018


[[Page 46420]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY00.019



[[Page 46421]]


    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: July 21, 2000.
Kathleen A. Merrigan,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 00-18987 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-C