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COLORADO BOARD OF HEALTH M I N U T E S April 21, 2004
Page 8
Planning Session re: May rulemaking hearings and summer meeting schedule
Planning for May 21 public rulemaking hearing on proposed amendments to the
Colorado Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Fluid Milk Products Regulations:
Barbara Hruska, director of the Consumer Protection Division, updated the Board on
changes in the proposed amendments that have been made since the initial draft was
presented to the Board last month. She stated that after a very thorough and extensive
review and consideration, the department has removed the proposed exemption for
Guidestone Dairy to continue to sell raw milk. She stated that it is not safe to consume
raw milk; and that the exemption would preclude the department from its ability and its
responsibility to adequately protect public health. Ms. Hruska stated that the division has
compiled the additional information requested by the Board last month and will be
forwarding a packet to the Board next week.
Ms. Osthus informed the Board that there are indications that 100-200 people are
expected to attend the pasteurized milk rulemaking hearing. The Board discussed the
hearing procedures, agenda and logistics for the meeting.
Mr. James Dean, attorney for Guidestone Farm, noted that Guidestone has assembled
extensive materials for the Board, and that these materials have been provided for
distribution to Board members today, in order to give the Board sufficient time to review
the materials prior to the May 21 hearing.
PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARING: Proposed amendments to Colorado Grade A
Pasteurized Milk and Fluid Milk Products Regulations
Colorado Board of Health Minutes May 19, 2004
Dr. Barkett welcomed the individuals attending the hearing, as well as those participating
in the hearing via satellite video conference from Fort Collins and Durango. He stated
that the Board has received a large volume of information, including written materials
and e-mails, concerning this issue, and that these materials are now part of the public
record. He stated that all of this information has been reviewed and considered by the
Board, and does not need to be repeated in oral testimony. He stated that in order to hear
comments from all of the individuals who have signed up to testify, it will be necessary
to limit public testimony to three minutes per person.
Staff Comments: Barbara Hruska, director of the Consumer Protection Division,
discussed the department’s proposed amendments to the Colorado Grade A Pasteurized
Milk and Fluid Milk Products Regulations. She stated that the purpose of the proposed
amendments is two-fold: 1) to update the current regulations by adopting by reference the
2003 revision of the federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO); and 2) to clarify the
definition of the sale of raw milk.
She stated that the PMO is a product of the National Conference of Interstate Milk
Shippers and is developed through a collaborative process including participation of the
federal Food and Drug Administration, state and local milk regulatory agencies,
academia and dairy industry representatives. She explained that the PMO is revised
approximately every two years to provide for the incorporation of new technologies, new
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