October 4, 2010 - See Action Alert

Status Quo:  

Draft Rules: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol39/39-31/1402.html

Featured Changes

• Decrease in manufacturing grade milk bacterial limits for individual producer from 1,000,000/ml to 500,000/ml
• Decrease in bacterial standard for commingled milk for manufacturing from 3 million/ml or lower to 1 million/ml or lower.
• The proposed pathogen testing requirement for raw milk.
• Decrease in the somatic cell count limit to 750,000/ml or lower for individual producers of milk for manufacturing, raw milk, and milk for pasteurization (not already regulated as Grade "A" producers).

Background: pdf

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) has begun the process of revising its regulations relating to Milk Sanitation. The current Milk Sanitation regulations are published at 7 Pa. Code Chapter 59 (and can be viewed on-line at www.pacode.com). PDA proposes to replace the current Milk Sanitation regulations and publish new Milk Sanitation regulations at 7 Pa. Code Chapter 59a.

PDA will publish its proposed new Milk Sanitation regulations in the August 1 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This document can be viewed on-line, on or after August 1, at www.pabulletin.com. This document describes the 30-day window (August 1 through August 31) within which interested persons may submit written comments on the proposed new regulation to PDA.

The Milk Sanitation Law also requires that PDA hold a public hearing on those portions of the proposed new regulation that address “… the number and character” of bacteria in milk. Since the proposed new regulation would make several changes to bacteria standards for milk for manufacturing and raw milk, a public hearing will convene to address these proposed changes. This hearing will be focused only on the proposed changes to bacterial standards – and not on the entire proposed new regulation. You are welcome to attend the hearing or offer written testimony to be included in the record of the public hearing. Written testimony should be received by me, at this address, before August 18.

PUBLIC HEARING
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
1:00 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Building Room #202
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA