[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-93]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. DA 00-09B]


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document gives notice of the availability of revisions to 
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. The changes 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 20,0000 per gram, and for U.S. Standard Grade dry buttermilk 
and dry buttermilk product to a maximum of 75,000 per gram.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This notice is effective February 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The revised Standards are available from 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 or at 
www.ams.usda.gov/dairy/stand.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Duane R. Spomer, (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 (CFR); however, they are maintained by USDA.
    AMS is revising 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 
Buttermilk and Buttermilk Product using the procedures it published in 
the August 13, 1997, Federal Register and that appear in Part 36 of 
Title 7 of the CFR.
    The notice which included a request for comments on the proposed 
changes was published in the Federal Register on September 8, 2000 (65 
FR 54477-54478).
    The current 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 effect since 
August 7, 1996, and the United States Standards for Grades of 
Buttermilk and Buttermilk Product have been in effect since August 23, 
1991. AMS proposed changes to these standards in response to a request 
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.
    AMS published a notice in the Federal Register detailing the 
proposed changes and providing a comment period of 60 days, which ended 
on November 7, 2000.
    The American Dairy Products Institute filed a comment supporting 
the proposed changes. No other comments were received.
    Accordingly, the changes proposed in 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 Buttermilk and Buttermilk Product are incorporated in the 
revised standards.
    The revised United States Standards for Grades of Nonfat Dry Milk 
(Spray Process), the revised United States Standards for Instant Nonfat 
Dry Milk and the revised United States Standards for Grades of Dry 
Buttermilk and Dry Buttermilk Product are available either through the 
above address or accessing AMS Home Page on the Internet at 
www.ams.usda.gov/dairy/stand.htm.

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

    Dated: December 27, 2000.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-93 Filed 1-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P