The Dairy Inspection Program is a regulatory inspection program designed to ensure that milk and other dairy products are safe. The State Grade A program must meet Federal requirements in order for Grade A dairy products, including fluid milk, to be shipped interstate. Manufacturing grade products are held to similar Federal requirements. Dairy inspectors perform a wide variety of inspection duties, not just farm inspections.
Dairy Inspection Responsibilities |
| Inspection |
Frequency |
Who performs |
Number of Facilities |
| Grade A Farm inspections |
2 times per year |
Dairy inspectors |
About 4700 Grade A Farms |
| Grade A Plant inspections |
4 times per year |
Dairy inspectors |
26 Gr A Processing Plants |
| HTST pasteurizers |
4 times per year (Grade A); 2 times per year (Manufacturing) |
Dairy inspectors |
42 Gr A Pasteurizers, 55 manufacturing grade pasteurizers |
| Grade B Farm inspections |
1 time per year |
Dairy inspectors |
About 600 farms |
| Manufacturing grade plant inspections |
2 times per year |
Dairy inspectors |
About 41 manufacturing plants |
| Hauler/samplers |
Once every 2 years |
Dairy inspectors |
approx 1,000 haulers |
| All tankers |
Once per year |
Dairy inspectors |
about 600 tankers |
| Positive milk residue – antibiotics |
After each violation |
Dairy inspectors |
Depends on number of violations |
| Interstate Milk Shipper’s Farm BTU surveys |
Once every 2 years |
Interstate Rating Officer |
Farms grouped into BTU’s, depends on groupings |
| Interstate Milk Shipper’s Plant surveys |
Once every 2 years |
Interstate Rating Officer |
All Grade A plants wishing to sell interstate (about 26) | Without dairy inspection, farmers, dairy plants and cooperatives would not be able to sell Grade A milk interstate. Program requirements are dictated by the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which is a Federal model document for milk regulations. Changes for this document can be proposed every two years during the National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipment (NCIMS). Proposals are debated and voted on and must receive final approval by the Food and Drug Administration to be enacted.
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