Friday, January 16, 2009
MPCs
Imported casein, milk protein concentrate (MPC) and ultra-filtered (UF) milk products, blends and food preparations have benefited from a significant loophole in U.S. dairy trade policy and have distorted the U.S. dairy market. Under current law, casein and MPC imports are not limited under the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the WTO. In addition, casein, MPC and UF products are being used in the current production of standardized cheeses, although they do not meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) definition of milk.
NFU supports maintaining FDA’s current definition of milk to prevent casein and MPC from being used in standardized cheese. We advocate for government to restrict the importation of casein, MPC, dairy blends and food preparations, and to take action against any processors engaged in illegal dumping of casein or MPCs. NFU also is fighting for the immediate passage of the Milk Import Tariff Equity Act to subject casein, MPC and other dairy blends to a tariff rate quota.
In addition, the government should impose strong penalties for the dairy plants using casein and/or MPC and dairy blends in standardized cheese production, and should require an end-use certification on all imports of MPC, dairy blends and food preparations, and should prohibit subsidization of the products.
NFU believes that a stronger effort must be made to inform consumers when their products contain substitutes for milk.
Consumer Protection
Rapidly changing technology within the production of dairy products has led to consumers being uninformed about the true nature of all dairy products. NFU believes consumers have the right to make informed purchase decisions.
MPC should be banned for human consumption until it meets the necessary generally regarded as safe (GRAS) requirements. The government should then require labeling of imitation and substitute dairy products, using the “Real Seal” only on domestically produced dairy products and subsequent enforcement of its standards. In addition, NFU advocates increasing the federal standards for fat and solids in fluid milk to meet the national average of the milk content produced on U.S. farms, requiring imports to meet the same high standards used for domestically produced dairy products, requiring labeling of food products to identify the parent company. 
Supporting Documents (PDF format)
MPC Cosponsorship List by State 7-24-06
MPC Talking Points 3-29-04
