[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 175 (Friday, September 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54477-54478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23024]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. DA-00-09]


United States Standards for Grades of Nonfat Dry Milk (Spray 
Process), United States Standards for Instant Nonfat Dry Milk and 
United States Standards for Grades of Dry Buttermilk and Dry Buttermilk 
Product

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on proposals to 
revise the United States Standards for Grades of Nonfat Dry Milk (Spray 
Process), the United States Standards for Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, and 
the United States Standards for Grades of Dry Buttermilk and Dry 
Buttermilk Product. Proposed revisions would reduce the Standard Plate 
Count (bacterial estimates) for U.S. Extra Grade nonfat dry milk (spray 
process) and instant nonfat dry milk to a maximum of 10,000 per gram, 
for U.S. Extra Grade dry buttermilk and dry buttermilk product to a 
maximum of 20,000 per gram, and for U.S. Standard Grade dry buttermilk 
and dry buttermilk product to a maximum of 75,000 per gram.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 7, 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

[[Page 54478]]

public inspection at the above address during regular business hours.
    The current United States Standards, along with proposed changes, 
are available either through the above addresses or by accessing AMS' 
Home Page on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/dairystand.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Duane R. Spomer, Chief, Dairy 
Standardization Branch, AMS/USDA/Dairy Programs, Room 2746 South 
Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, telephone (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 Nonfat Dry Milk 
(Spray Process), the United States Standards for Instant Nonfat Dry 
Milk, and the United States Standards for Grades of Dry Buttermilk and 
Dry Buttermilk Product no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs.
    When these products are 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.
    AMS is proposing to change the United States Standards for Grades 
of Nonfat Dry Milk (Spray Process), the United States Standards for 
Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, and the United States Standards for Grades of 
Dry Buttermilk and Dry Buttermilk Products using the procedures that 
appear in Part 36 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR 
Part 36).
    AMS also administers a voluntary grading program for dry milk 
products under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. Any interested 
person, commercial firm, or government agency can, for a fee, have AMS 
verify that the dry milk products covered by these standards meet the 
requirements of the applicable U.S. standards. Dry milk products 
covered by these standards can be packaged into containers bearing the 
USDA grade shield. The grading program is implemented by the regulation 
in 7 CFR Part 58.
    The United States Standards for Grades of Nonfat Dry Milk (Spray 
Process) have been in effect since May 22, 1996, the United States 
Standards for Instant Nonfat Dry Milk have been in effect since August 
7, 1996, and the United States Standards for Grades of Dry Buttermilk 
and Dry Buttermilk Product have been in effect since August 23, 1991. 
AMS initiated these proposed changes following a suggestion by the 
American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI), a trade association 
representing the dry milk industry. ADPI requested that the maximum 
number of bacteria allowed in nonfat dry milk, instant nonfat dry milk, 
dry buttermilk and dry buttermilk product be reduced. ADPI suggests 
that these changes would enhance the competitiveness of U.S. dry milk 
products in international markets since several other exporting 
countries have bacterial requirements more stringent than current U.S. 
standards. By reducing the bacterial requirements, the U.S. dry milk 
industry will be more competitive in international markets. 
Additionally, the standards would reflect improvements that have 
occurred in the quality of dry milk products produced in the United 
States.
    Proposed by Dairy Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service:
    USDA proposes to lower the maximum bacterial content requirement 
for the specified product grade standards, as suggested by the American 
Dairy Products Institute, as follows:

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  Current standard plate count         Proposed standard plate count
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  United States Standards for Grades of Nonfat Dry Milk (Spray Process)
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Extra Grade: 40,000/g...........  Extra Grade: 10,000/g.
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           United States Standards for Instant Nonfat Dry Milk
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Extra Grade: 30,000/g...........  Extra Grade: 10,000/g.
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 United States Standards for Grades of Dry Buttermilk and Dry Buttermilk
                                 Product
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Extra Grade: 50,000/g...........  Extra Grade: 20,000/g.
Standard Grade: 200,000/g.......  Standard Grade: 75,000/g.
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    This notice provides a 60-day comment period for interested parties 
to comment on proposed revisions to the standards.

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

    Dated: September 1, 2000.
Kathleen A. Merrigan,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 00-23024 Filed 9-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P