Regulatory Resources

Regulatory Agencies provide guidance in addition to enforcing state and federal regulations. Get to know your state inspector and the regulations pertinent to your business.

Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration is a scientific regulatory agency responsible for the safety of the nation's domestically produced and imported foods, cosmetics, drugs, biologics, medical devices, and radiological products. The FDA provides the reasonable definition of standards of identity, quality standards, product fill/weight requirements, and protection from adulteration.

Adulteration may be defined as "is a a product bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance rendering it injurious to health."

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in 2011. This modifies the current legislation to establish increased oversight by the FDA. While certain aspects of the law continue to be written, topics include:

  • Mandatory preventative controls for food facilities
  • Authority to prevent intentional contamination
  • Records access
  • Mandated inspection frequency, based upon risk level
  • Enhanced product traceability
  • Registration of food facilities
  • Enhanced import control

Contact FDA

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration

5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740

Phone: 1-888-SAFEFOOD
Phone: 1-888-723-3366
Website: fda.gov

NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets

The Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services is responsible for all aspects of the State’s dairy industry. The Division has a dual role to protect the health and welfare of the people of New York State and to help promote the agricultural economic development of the dairy industry through various economic controls and programs.

The dairy industry is the largest single segment of the State's agricultural industry. The Division regulates this industry through various sanitation, inspection, and economic controls and programs. Activities include issuance of licenses; inspecting each fluid, manufacturing and wholesale frozen dessert plant every 90-days, enforcing milk sanitation requirements, monthly sampling of milk and milk products, operating a milk producer security program, overseeing the implementation of dairy promotion activities, coordinating state and federal dairy policy, operating a state milk marketing order, collecting and analyzing data on the state dairy industry, investigating consumer complaints about milk quality, managing the milk price gouging law, and reviewing milk labeling and advertising

Additional Information

  • Establish and continuously renew public health enforcement and sanitary inspection techniques
  • Establish policy guidelines for penalty actions provided for by law and determine actions required
  • Review the effectiveness and adequacy of all relevant milk and dairy product laws and regulations and recommend changes where necessary
  • Conduct and supervise the licensing of certified industry milk inspectors
  • Prescribe uniform methods and procedures for conducting inspections in an effective, efficient, and economical manner
  • Administer the Dairy Products Laws and the related rules and regulations concerning the quality of milk and milk products produced and / or sold in New York State
  • Ensure that all dairy products are properly represented in labeling and advertising
  • Conduct inspections in accordance with the cooperative State Public Health Service Program for certification of interstate milk shippers;Maximize sales of milk and dairy products
  • Ensure an adequate supply of milk for the public
  • Ensure income protection for producers in case of milk dealer defaults in payment
  • Encourage the orderly marketing of milk through producer owned and controlled cooperatives
  • Encourage efficiencies in the handling of milk
  • Promote conditions necessary to provide an adequate return to dairy farmers

Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services

10B Airline Dr.
Albany, NY 12235
518.457.1772
518.484.8730 (fax)
agriculture.ny.gov

US Dept. of Agriculture

The USDA Dairy Programs assists the dairy industry by providing stability and orderliness in the dairy marketplace, while at the same time assuring the availability of an adequate supply of high-quality milk and dairy products for U.S. consumption. 

Programs of Agriculture Marketing Services include:

  • Grading, Certification, and Verification
  • Product Reporting
  • National Organic Program
  • Research and Promotion Programs
  • Marketing Orders and Agreements
  • Commodity Purchasing
  • Agricultural Transportation
  • Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing
  • Grant Programs

Additional Information

Dairy Program

Dana Coale, Deputy Administrator
E-mail: Dana.Coale [at] usda.gov (Dana[dot]Coale[at]usda[dot]gov)
Phone: (202) 720-4392
Fax: (202) 690-3410