FDA: Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The latest updates and guidance from FDA concerning COVID-19 and the Food Supply Chain including Questions and Answers:

https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/food-safety-and-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

CDC: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

CDC’s main update and resources page on the COVID-19 outbreak:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

COVID-19 Resources from the Dairy Industry

National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF): Dairy Farmer Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention and Management

https://www.nmpf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/V1-03192020-Dairy-Farmer-Handbook-on-Coronavirus-Prevention-and-Management-1.pdf

International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) News for the Dairy Industry on COVID-19

https://www.idfa.org/news/coronavirus

The Appendix N Modification Committee, The FDA Center for Food Safety and Nutrition and the NCIMS Executive Board at it’s Board meeting following the 2019 NCIMS Conference have agreed to the following documents and plan for collaboration on a new comprehensive approach to minimizing the risk of drug residues in milk.

FDA Memorandum of January 2, 2020

Appendix N Modification Committee Update of March 18, 2020

At the 2019 Conference in April 2019, FDA presented two general concepts to the Conference for consideration for the pilot as part of proposal JC-1. The Liaison Committee was charges by the delegates to work cooperatively with FDA to develop the details of the pilot program to be implemented by FDA and the participating States.

Two documents were presented and discussed with the NCIMS Executive Board on January 23, 2020, which included pilot state selection and details relating to pilot concepts. The Liaison report was accepted by the NCIMS Board and those documents are shared here for your information.

Update to NCIMS Board: Dairy Inspection Pilot Program – January 23, 2020

Dairy Inspection Pilot Program: Questions and Answers – Option A Procedures, January 8, 2020

Dr. Stephen Ingham, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, has been appointed to the NCIMS Executive Board By Chairman Stephen Beam.

Dr. Ingham will fill the Central States seat for State Enforcement/Rating or Local Health Agencies that was vacated upon the retirement of Roger Tedrick of the Ohio Department of Agricuture. As required by the NCIMS Constitution and ByLaws, an election will be held at the 2021 Conference to fill the position until the term expires at the 2025 Conference.

The National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments is accepting applications for the Executive Secretary position on its Executive Board. The Position Announcement and the Job Description are available by selecting these links. Your curriculum vitae and letter of interest must be submitted by October 7, 2019 as noted in the announcement.

The NCIMS Executive Board is announcing a call for nominations for potential Hall of Fame awards to be presented at the 2019 Conference in St Louis, Missouri. 

This is in keeping with 2013 Resolution #11 that requested that the NCIMS Executive Board create an NCIMS “Hall of Fame”.  The first nominees were considered and announced at the 2015 Conference followed by awards presented at the 2017 Conference.  Information about the NCIMS Hall of Fame awards may be found on the NCIMS website at www.ncims.org.

The 2019 NCIMS Hall of Fame Nomination Form and any attached supporting information must be prepared, scanned and submitted to Marlena Bordson, Executive Secretary, and received no later than midnight Central Time, February 8, 2019.

Your nomination must include dates of service and sufficient details, including examples, to meet the requirements that the individual serves or served at the highest level of distinction or has contributed significantly to the NCIMS and the advancement of its mission.

On November 24,2018 based on the recommendation of Dr. Stephen Beam, Chair and unanimous vote of the Executive Board. Ms. Gena Reich of the Washington Department of Agriculture was appointed to the NCIMS Executive Board to fill the vacant Western States regulatory member position as a result of the resignation of Michael Wiggs from the Idaho Department of Agriculture.

Section 8 of the NCIMS By-Laws added by the delegates at the last Conference specifies that Board vacancies occurring between Conferences shall be filled by the Chair and confirmed by the Board. The appointee serves until the next biennial or special meeting of the Conference, at which time the vacancy is filled for the balance of the term by a qualified registrant who is nominated by the Nominating Committee, or from the floor of the General Assembly, and is elected by the voting delegates.

The following documents were received and approved for posting on the NCIMS website by the NCIMS Executive Board.

Appendix N Modification Committee Recommendations related to the testing of the tetracycline class of drugs and extension of  the Pilot Program beyond December 2018.          Appendix N Tetracycline testing beyond December FINALIZED 08062018

Appendix N Pilot Program Question and Answer Version 7

The Automatic Milking Installation (AMI) Subcommittee of the Technical Engineering Review Committee (TERC) was formed in January.  The Subcommittee is working on its charge from the NCIMS Conference Chair, Dr. Stephen Beam, “to examine the issue of compliance of Automatic Milking Installations  (AMIs) with the requirements of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) with the specific objective of identifying the obstacles and potential solutions to aligning PMO requirements with current and next generation AMI equipment and operations.  As part of meeting this charge, the Committee shall establish an inclusive working subcommittee consisting of representatives from state  regulatory agencies, FDA, AMI manufacturers, and other industry sectors as needed to obtain the necessary technical expertise and stakeholder input.  The Committee shall provide progress reports  at least quarterly to the NCIMS Executive Board, and may culminate its work with proposals for specific revisions to the PMO, or other conference documents, for consideration by state delegates at the 2019 Conference.”

The following information is provided on behalf  of the AMI Subcommittee:

AMI Subcommittee Quarterly Reports to the NCIMS Executive Board:

      1. Jan 8 AMI Subcommittee Letter to  NCIMS Board 

      2. AMI Subcommittee March 23 Letter to NCIMS Board 

      3. AMI Subcommittee June 2018 Quarterly Update to NCIMS Board

      4. September 2018 NCIMS Quarterly update on AMI requirements

      5. December 2018 NCIMS Quarterly Update on AMI requirements

NCIMS Memoranda of Information (M-I) related to AMIs

1. M-I-14-8 (AMI CRITERIA)-FINAL
2. M-I-14-8 (SUPPLEMENT 1)-FINAL (AMI CRITERIA)
3. M-I-14-8 Supplement 2 (Final 3-28-18)
4. M-I-17-3 Guidance AMI Computer System(s) Verification
5. M-I-17-4-FINAL (AMI QUESTION SUBMISSION)
6. M-I-17-5 AMI Check Rating Guidance (1)

The Automatic Milking Installation (AMI) Subcommittee of the Technical Engineering Review Committee (TERC) was formed in January.  The Subcommittee is working on its charge from the NCIMS Conference Chair, Dr. Stephen Beam, “to examine the issue of compliance of Automatic Milking Installations  (AMIs) with the requirements of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) with the specific objective of identifying the obstacles and potential solutions to aligning PMO requirements with current and next generation AMI equipment and operations.  As part of meeting this charge, the Committee shall establish an inclusive working subcommittee consisting of representatives from state  regulatory agencies, FDA, AMI manufacturers, and other industry sectors as needed to obtain the necessary technical expertise and stakeholder input.  The Committee shall provide progress reports  at least quarterly to the NCIMS Executive Board, and may culminate its work with proposals for specific revisions to the PMO, or other conference documents, for consideration by state delegates at the 2019 Conference.

Membership of the AMI Subcommittee may be found on the Committees listing link under the Leadership tab on the home page.