Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-101 WAC, Washington state milk and milk products standards, the Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA) is considering adoption of the 2017 Revision of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), the 2017 Revision of the Procedures Governing the Cooperative State Conference on Interstate Milk Shippers, the 2017 Revision of the Methods of Making Sanitation Ratings (MMSR) of Milk Shippers and the 2017 Revision of the Evaluation of Milk Laboratories (EML). WSDA is also reformatting the section on raw milk warning labels for consistency. There are no changes to the label requirements.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WSDA is proposing to adopt, in accordance with RCW 15.36.021, the 2017 Revision of the Grade A PMO, the 2017 Revision of the Procedures Governing the Cooperative State Conference on Interstate Milk Shippers, the 2017 Revision of MMSR of Milk Shippers and the 2017 Revision of EML. Adoption of these revisions will ensure that the milk and milk products produced in this state meet the latest standards and will assist in continued acceptance of Washington state milk and milk products shipped into other states. The raw milk label updating will ensure format consistency.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Milk Safety Branch, WSDA will communicate any rule amendments with FDA.

Process for Developing New Rule: WSDA staff will discuss rule making with affected stakeholders. Affected stakeholders will also have an opportunity to submit written comments on the proposed rules during the public comment period and will also be able to present oral testimony at the public hearing. Discussion on the rule-making intention was discussed at the WSDA dairy inspection program advisory committee April 2018 meeting.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Claudia G. Coles, WSDA FSCS, Policy and External Affairs Advisor, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone 206-321-1123, TTY 800-833-6388 or 711, email FSCS@agr.wa.gov, web site https://agr.wa.gov/; or Lucy Severs, WSDA Food Safety, Program Manager, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone 360-725-5761, TTY 800-833-6388 or 711, email FSCS@agr.wa.gov, web site https://agr.wa.gov/.