Dairy Regulations

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Having a proper distribution system is essential to maintaining an efficient and effective dairy processing operation. The dairy supply chain continues to face ongoing pressures including labor and transportation shortages, high fuel costs, evolving regulatory and food safety concerns and more.

I anxiously awaited the Liberation Day announcement thinking we would finally “know” what was going to happen, but I quickly realized that the announcement made that day was just the first move in a long and intense chess game, or it was just the lighting of a fuse and we have no idea how long that fuse is or what it is attached to. 

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act was previously approved by the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee with a bipartisan vote of 24-10 in February. The bill now awaits passage by the full Senate and the full House of Representatives.

On May 22, Costa Rica’s National Animal Health Service (SENASA) officially approved the first American dairy cooperative for export to Costa Rica, making it the first U.S. dairy facility to be registered under the new streamlined approval process that eases market access for U.S. dairy products. This first registration paves the way for future U.S. dairy exports to Costa Rica, a $60 million market in 2024, that could have been lost if the Trump Administration was not able to navigate their new process.

Digitalization involves almost every aspect of dairy production, but for brevity’s sake, this article focuses on four key elements: regulatory compliance, improved efficiencies, quality control, and AI.

“On behalf of America’s dairy processors and producers, IDFA applauds President Trump’s announcement today that the United States and the United Kingdom have reached the terms for a significant trade deal between our two markets that promises to expand access for U.S. agricultural goods, reduce tariffs, and remove barriers to trade," said IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes.

The Memorandum of Understanding outlines a framework for collaboration to support enhanced dairy trade, strengthen commercial cooperation and bolster public nutrition through promoting greater consumption of dairy products, particularly in public programs.

Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president of trade and workforce policy at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), joins us for Episode 52 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss “Tariffs and Supply Chain Challenges.” Based in Washington, D.C., the IDFA, since 1990, represents the dairy manufacturing industry including cheese, milk and ice cream processors. 

The goal of the Commitment is to eliminate the use of Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 in any milk, cheese, and/or yogurt products sold to K-12 schools for reimbursable school meals by July 2026. 

"We are glad to see the administration focusing on long-time barriers to trade that the European Union and India have imposed on our exports. The administration has rightly noted both countries’ penchants for restricting sales of American products,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.