Final Rule: Producer-Handler Decision

Posted by Brian Gould Tue, 04 May 2010 13:11:00 GMT

The USDA today issued a final rule amending the producer-handler definition in all Federal milk marketing orders. Producers in all Federal milk marketing orders approved the amendments in referenda held in March 2010.

This rule amends the producer handler definition to limit exemption from pooling and pricing provisions of the orders to those producer-handlers with total route disposition and sales of packaged fluid milk products to other plants of 3 million pounds or less per month. These amendments were considered in a recommended decision published Oct. 21, 2009, and adopted by a final decision published March 4, 2010. The final rule appears in today’s Federal Register. The amendments will be effective June 1, 2010.