A newly adopted requirement to remain consistent with Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) requirements for each milk pick up and transport tank to be permitted has required the development of a new permit and database system without additional resources. Program requirements may change whenever federal model programs change or in response to state or industry specific concerns. Grade “A” regulatory requirements change to some degree every other year because the NCIMS conference meets every two years to consider changing the program requirements. There is a continuing need to update the Grade “A” regulations every other year or so. Other regulations need updating less frequently but must be reviewed every three years.

Changing consumer demand impacts the demand for advice and assistance, especially in frozen desserts, as frozen yogurt has been replaced by ice cream shops mixing candy and other treats into ice cream for customers to enjoy.

Expansion of farmstead cheese making places great demands for advice and assistance on the Dairy Services Program. This includes animal production management, milk quality management, cheese processing, and process techniques to manufacture safe and wholesome cheeses. A single new farmstead cheese operation consumes many times the amount of inspector resources than would normally be required to permit and inspect any other new dairy processing facility.

Budget reductions and level funding to cover basic expenses for delivery of services (mileage reimbursement, postage, supplies, equipment, training, etc.) limit our program’s ability to provide training opportunities to develop staff that is educated and capable to handle a diverse range of inspection and enforcement activities.

Replacing existing personnel as they leave or retire is difficult. State salaries are insufficient to lure new employees into inspector positions when compared to salaries in the dairy industry in general. Lack of any defined and funded pay for performance system and limited advancement opportunities combined with low entrance salaries discourage the most qualified applicants for accepting employment.

The total demand for Dairy Services Program products and services is expected to decline slowly over time. Declines in grade “A” dairy farm numbers will be partially offset by increases in farmstead cheese operations and changing regulatory requirements.

• Inspection and enforcement: •Uniform inspection and enforcement activities are conducted on facilities statewide to ensure milk and dairy products are properly handled, processed, packaged, stored and transported in a safe manner and to ensure a level playing field on which businesses may compete. Inspections also provide a basis for compliance with Interstate Milk Shipper rating which allows listed shippers to ship milk and dairy products in interstate commerce.
• Regulation development: •Provide Grade “A” dairy regulations that are consistent with the "Pasteurized Milk Ordinance" and the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipper (NCIMS) requirements to ensure Virginia dairy farmers and processors have the ability to ship Grade “A” milk and dairy products in interstate commerce. •Provide manufactured milk regulations consistent with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommendations to govern the production of manufactured grade milk and dairy products (butter, cheese, condensed milk and powdered milk) so that only safe and wholesome dairy products are offered for sale. •Provide milk hauling, measuring, sampling, and testing regulations to ensure milk is sampled and transported in ways that prevent adulteration and maintain its quality. •Provide regulations governing the methods by which milk and dairy products are tested for pay purposes to ensure accurate payment to dairy farmers. •Provide regulations governing the production of ice cream, frozen desserts and similar products to ensure their safety and quality.
• Economic Development: •Provide advice and assistance to dairy farmers, milk plants and dairy product processors to foster the quality of their products and their ultimate success. Provide a uniform regulatory environment and level playing field on which businesses may compete.

Objective Description

Enhance food safety and security programs for citizens of the Commonwealth by maintaining a level of 39,501 food safety and security inspectional activities of regulated food establishments to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply for Virginia. Inspect each grade “A” dairy farm and each manufactured grade dairy farm a minimum of once each six months. Collect and test milk samples for each grade “A” dairy farm and each manufactured grade dairy farm a minimum of 4 times in each six month period. Evaluate each milk hauler weighing and sampling milk at least every two years. Inspect every milk pick up and milk transport tank once each year. Inspect each milk and dairy processing plant and frozen desserts plant at least once each three months. Inspect each retail dip shop and mobile unit at least once each six months.

Alignment to Agency Goals

Objective Measures