What is Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance?

The Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, published by the United States Food and Drug Administration, outlines minimum standards and requirements for Grade A milk production and processing. Grade A standards are recommended by the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments , which is composed of voting representatives from state and local regulatory agencies, and nonvoting representatives of the dairy industry and FDA. As a general rule, FDA accepts the Conference recommendations and incorporates them into the revised PMO. The state regulator adopts the PMO standards as a minimum, and in many cases requires more stringent standards.