Heading into 2020, two major actions provide cause for optimism regarding a change in labeling enforcement at the Food and Drug Administration, according to the National Milk Producers Federation. 

First, the Senate confirmed Dr. Stephen Hahn to lead the FDA December 12th. 

In an exchange with Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, during his confirmation hearing, Dr. Hahn stated his support for “clear, transparent, and understandable labeling.” 

More recently, the House and Senate included language in the report accompanying the final Fiscal Year 2020 government funding measure to urge FDA to complete its job and enforce dairy-product standards. 

Both the House and Senate versions of the Agriculture-FDA bill report included language reaffirming bipartisan congressional concern with mislabeled imitation dairy products, and directs FDA to enforce its own rules on labeling. 

NMPF says this week that the report reaffirms Congress’s concern regarding products “that include the names of dairy products that do not contain milk or ingredients derived from milk,” as stated in Senate language.