Commodity Specifications for Fluid Milk and Milk Products 

Eligible for the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program

Effective Date: May 4, 2020

Table of Contents

Part 1 Commodity Specifications........................................2

Section 1.1 Commodities.............................................2

Section 1.2 Warranty....................................................2

Section 1.3 Quality Assurance.....................................2

Part 2 Container and Packaging Requirements.................3

Section 2.1 Commercial Packaging Requirements....3

Section 2.2 Containers and Materials.........................3

Section 2.3 Unitization Requirements........................4

Section 2.4 Date and Plant Code Markings................4
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Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

 A. Quality of Product

Fluid milk products shall be as defined in 7 CRF 1000.15; may be of any group, 

type, flavor, packaging size, and agricultural practice from the list of such 

classifications in Section 3 of the current USDA Commercial Item Description 

(CID) A-A-20338A for fluid milk and fluid milk products; and must meet the 

specifications regarding salient characteristics in Section 6 of the CID in effect on 

the date products are shipped for donation. 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CIDMilkFluid.pdf

 B. Production Requirements

(1) The fluid milk products shall have been produced and processed in the 

United States.

(2) The plants in which the product is to be processed shall be in compliance 

with the requirements of the latest revision of the United States Public Health 

Service / Food and Drug Administration Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance 

(PMO)

https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocument

sRegulatoryInformation/Milk/UCM612027.pdf

and listed in the current Interstate Milk Shippers Domestic Firm List

https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FederalStateFoodPrograms/uc

m2007965.htm#sld.

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The product shall have a shelf life of at least 12 days from the delivery date, OR

the maximum days allowed by local or state regulation upon delivery, whichever 

is less. The “Use By,” “Sell By,” or “Best By” date on the container shall match 

this shelf life requirement.

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

The eligible dairy organization shall comply with all applicable testing 

requirements of the latest revision of the PMO

https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocument

sRegulatoryInformation/Milk/UCM612027.pdf.
3

PART 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

A. Container and packaging requirements are those used in the current commercial 

shipping practices and shall comply with:

(1) Unitization requirements in Section 2.3.

(2) At the donor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” may be 

printed on the principal display panel of the food label. This is not a 

requirement. 

(3) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe 

cooperation with the shipping container manufacturers to determine the safe 

stacking height.

Section 2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS

A. All containers, closures, and packaging materials shall comply with FDA

regulations and PMO Appendix J “STANDARDS FOR THE FABRICATION OF 

SINGLE-SERVICE CONTAINERS AND /OR CLOSURES FOR MILK AND /OR MILK 

PRODUCTS.” 

https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocument

sRegulatoryInformation/Milk/UCM612027.pdf. See also the following link for 

single-service manufacturers from domestic origin: Certified Manufacturers Of 

Single-Service Containers And/Or Closures For Milk And/Or Milk Products –

Domestic: 

https://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/federalstateFoodPrograms/ucm2

007965.htm#ss

Section 2.3 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements:

A. Milk shipped in one-way paperboard or cardboard packaging shall be unitized

(palletized and stretch-wrapped).

B. Pallets shall be:

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the

packaged product, as a unit, without loss or damage.
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(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken runners or

slats.

(3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products.

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be:

(1) Constructed of a plastic film, which is to be stretched a minimum of 50

percent beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet load.

(2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized shipping

containers. The shipping containers shall be held firmly in place by the stretch 

wrap.

D. Pallet loads for both one-way cardboard and reusable crates shall be: 

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping containers

overhang the edges of pallets.

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a manner

that prevents shifting during transit.

Section 2.4 DATE AND PLANT CODE MARKINGS

A. Containers shall be marked with a “Use By,” “Sell By,” or “Best By” date

indicating the month and day of best product quality.

B. Containers shall be marked with a Federal Information Processing Standard

(FIPS) number and a plant number assigned by the Interstate Milk Shippers List, 

in accordance with the National Uniform Coding System described at 

https://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/federalstateFoodPrograms/ucm2

007965.htm#nucs.