Minnesota dairy processors must pay fees for licensing, inspections, and other activities. These fees are grouped by category and summarized in the tables below. For more information, contact your local dairy inspector or call the Dairy and Meat Inspection Division at 651-201-6300.
Important Notice: New License and Permit Surcharge
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our services, the MDA is introducing a license and permit surcharge (MINN. STAT. 17.033). This surcharge is an application processing charge that will be added to all licensing and permitting applications and renewals beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The surcharge will be calculated as 5% of the license or permit fee, with a minimum charge of $5.
The surcharge is supporting the modernization of our technology systems, which will provide better online services and more efficient processing of applications. The collected funds will be dedicated to upgrading our electronic systems, making it easier for you to interact with us and access the services you need.
| Description | Applies to | License Period | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Handler - Dairy | Dairy Plants: Plants processing raw milk Transfer Stations: Plants transferring milk from one tanker to another without facilities to hold or store milk | January 1 – December 31 | Sliding scale dependent on expected gross sales (initial license fee pro-rated by start date), billed annually; $50 one-time application fee |
| Milk Marketer | Anyone marketing milk | January 1 – December 31 | $100 for initial license; $250 no-license penalty; $250 for annual renewal |
| Bulk Milk Hauler and Sampler | Anyone collecting official samples for regulatory purposes from farms and/or direct load tankers | New licenses expire December 31 of year issued; Renewals valid 2 years - issued January 1, expire December 31 of second year | $60 for initial license; $60 for renewal |
| License and Permit Surcharge | All licensing and permitting applications and renewals | NA | 5% of license or permit fee, $5 minimum charge |
| Inspection Type | Applies to | Billing Schedule | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade B Plant Pasteurizer Unit Inspection | Food Handler - Dairy Plant License holders who operate Grade B (manufacturing grade) dairy plants pasteurizing milk or milk by-products. | Billed annually on January 1 | $140 per HTST, HHST, or vat pasteurizer |
| Grade A Plant Inspection | Food Handler - Dairy Plant License holders who operate Grade A Plants | Billed annually on July 1 | $500 for plants processing >700,000 lbs of milk/year; $300 for plants processing <700,000 lbs of milk/year |
| Inspection Type | Applies to | Billing Schedule | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A Farm Inspection | Processors and milk marketers who procure milk from Grade A dairy farms and wish to market Grade A milk | Billed annually on July 1 | $50/farm/year |
| Grade A Farm Reinspection | Processors and milk marketers whose Grade A farm requires reinspection | Billed monthly on the 15th of the month | $60 for farm with <100 cows; $150 for farm with >100 cows |
| Grade B Farm Inspection | Processors and milk marketers who procure milk from Grade B farms and wish to market manufacturing grade milk | Billed annually on January 1 | $25/farm/year |
| Grade B Farm Reinspection | Processors and milk marketers whose Grade B farm requires reinspection | Billed monthly on the 15th of the month | $45/farm |
| Type of fee | Applies to | Billing Schedule | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor Assessment or Selected Fee | Fluid milk processed and milk used in manufacturing fluid milk products sold for retail in Minnesota* | Billed monthly on the 25th of the month | Sliding scale of $0.05-$0.09/cwt of milk used in manufacturing of selected fluid milk products sold for retail in Minnesota - currently set at $0.08/cwt |
| Procurement Fee | Any entity that procures milk from a Minnesota dairy farm | Billed monthly on the 25th of the month | $0.011/cwt of milk procured directly from any Minnesota dairy farm in the previous month |
| Annual Laboratory Evaluation Officer Fee | Processors who maintain an Appendix N screening lab | Billed annually after evaluations are performed | $200/analyst and $50/test method for which analyst is approved |
| Pasteurizer reseals | Plants requiring a pasteurizer reseal | Monthly as services are rendered | $45/hour of inspector time |
| Fees for approval services rendered | Plants seeking review of their plans and equipment, including plumbing and water systems and any upgrades | Monthly as services are rendered | $45/hour of inspector time |
| Certificate of Free Sale fee | Plants exporting milk | As applications are submitted and processed | $125/certificate which includes up to 3 copies |
*The Processor Assessment fee or selected fee applies to the following products: milk (skim, low-fat, non-fat, whole, Vitamin D, homogenized, flavored), flavored drink, cream (heavy, light, heavy whipping, light whipping, fluid dairy creamers), half & half, sour cream, acidified sour cream, buttermilk, cultured milk or kefir, cultured buttermilk, concentrated milk & milk products, reconstituted milk, reconstituted half & half, reconstituted skim milk, reconstituted flavored milk, reconstituted flavored drink, acidified milk, evaporated milk, egg nog, yogurt (low-fat, non-fat, full-fat, flavored), cottage cheese, dry curd cottage cheese. Any size, combinations, or variations of these categories are applicable to the selected dairy fee.
