Dairy & Dairy Product Manufacturing

Pennsylvania's Milk Sanitation Law and associated regulations govern the state's Milk Sanitation Program, and establishes mechanisms for inspections, certifications, and Interstate Milk Shippers ratings of permit holders and licensees. 

Specific Milk Sanitation program responsibilities include the following:

• Provide for the annual training and licensing of Pennsylvania approved inspectors and complete their certification for Grade 'A' farm inspection work every 3 years.
• Complete regulatory inspections of milk, ice-cream, cheese, and other dairy products manufacturing plants on a regular basis.
• Complete inspections of pasteurization equipment for milk and dairy products on a regular basis.
• Complete interstate milk shippers program ratings of Grade 'A' bulk tank units, milk plants, and single service container manufacturers every 2 years.
• Complete regulatory inspections of milk producer quality records every 6 months and bulk milk tankers each year.
• Complete inspections of raw milk permit holders and their required records every 3 months.
• Complete on-site certification of milk plant samplers and bulk milk weigher/ samplers on a periodic basis.
• Complete plan reviews for new milking systems as well as for new dairy plant construction.  Review proposed milk and dairy food labeling for approval prior to use.
• Provide oversight for dairy farm market changes
• Complete routine sampling and special sampling responsibilities on a monthly basis.
• Respond to consumer complaints and assist with required recalls.

BFSLS 431 Notic​e of Milk Producer Action Report
 

In conjunction with obtaining a Weigher/Sampler license through the Pennsylvania Milk Board, individuals who perform in-field sampling of raw milk for pasteurization from bulk tanks, silos, and/or direct load systems shall obtain and maintain field certification of the sampling procedures.  The BFSLS issues this certification based on standards found in Appendix B of the latest version of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. 

Examination: As of January 1, 2026, the Bureau of Food Safety will be administering the examination portion of the weigher sampler certification process in addition to continuing to provide field evaluation support.  All individuals seeking initial certification will be required to apply with the Bureau using the Milk Sampler Certification Application.

Upon review of the Weigher Sampler Study Guide material, the applicant shall contact the Bureau at RA-AGMILKPROGRAM@PA.GOV for release of the examination which will be administered electronically. Once the applicant has passed the online exam, the field evaluation can be scheduled with the assigned inspector.

An overview of this process can be reviewed on the weigher sampler process flow chart below.
 

Important information. Please read carefully:

PDA cannot place you on the approved certification list until PMB application is completed.

*If this is for certification is for non-cow species (Goat, Sheep, Water Buffalo, and/or Camel) milk ONLY, PMB does not need to be contacted. If cow species is to be picked up, PMB must be contacted. 

All bulk milk hauler/shippers must also have a valid weigher/sampler license from the Pennsylvania Milk Board (PMB) if they will be involved in weighing milk of bovine (cow) species. Non-bovine species do not need to obtain PMB licensure. More information on this licensure can be found on PMB’s website.

Field Certification: Samplers seeking certification or recertification shall come prepared with the required sampling equipment including tanker truck, milk transfer hose, thermometer, sanitizer strips, sample well and dipper, or other aseptic sampling supplies as outlined in the facilities aseptic sampling SOP, sample vials, weight slips, and a means to identify the sample (i.e. marker/pen/sticker).

A list of certifications issued by the Department is published monthly. Certification is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. Weigher/Samplers shall make all efforts to renew certifications prior to expiration.  If your name does not appear on this list, your certification has expired by more than 1 year.

• Weigher Sampler Certifications​
  

To schedule an initial field certification or renew a Weigher/Sampler field certification, contact the assigned inspector for your county using the ​Regional Weigher Sampler Contact Map.

Reciprocity: BFSLS does acknowledge and support the PMO’s reciprocity allowance for accepting field certifications conducted in other states.  If the appropriate information is provided, this can be added to our database.  However, the sampler application and exam are a PA specific requirement.  The sampler application alerts us to create space in the database for the new sampler.  The exam can contain PA specific regulations which would not be reviewed/acknowledged if PA exam was not taken.
 

A person certified by the Department to obtain samples of milk or milk products for analysis by a PA Approved Dairy Laboratory.  The samples obtained do not require the weighing of milk and are not subject to PMMB licensing.  These certifications do include those termed as an Industry Plant Sampler as described in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO).  *New samplers shall fill out the Milk Sampler Certification Application and utilize the same Contact Map listed above for initial contact.

Sampler Definitions:

• Milk for Pasteurization: Samples pulled from silos or storage tanks at processing facilities OR from bulk tanks prior to ship to a processing facility for regulatory testing (may be commingled or single supply)
• Milk Products: Bottled and/or packaged milk products (other than fluid milk) pulled for regulatory testing.
• Pasteurized Milk: Bottled and/or packaged fluid milk products pulled for regulatory testing.
• Frozen Desserts: Samples pulled from soft-serve ice cream dispensers for regulatory testing related to Ch.59a.21. (c) 
• Raw Milk: Sampled pulled from bulk tanks (or possibly silos) for regulatory testing to meet the requirements of Ch. 59a. Subchapter F.
• Single Service Containers: Samples of manufactured containers and/or closures for single or multi-use packaging in dairy processing for regulatory testing as found in Appendix J of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.

A list of certifications issued by the Department will be published on a quarterly basis. These certifications expire after 24 months (plus the remaining days of the expiration month). If your name does not appear on this list, your certification has expired by more than 1 year. Please contact the Department using the Regional Contact Map to schedule your re-certification.  

• Plant Sampler Database
   

All positive official monthly and semi-annual test results are required to be reported to the Department of Agriculture immediately, by emailing the BFSLS 472 Emergency Laboratory Report Form, a copy of the positive test results and any supporting documentation applicable (i.e. bill of lading) to RA-AGLABRESULTS@pa.gov.

Screening Facilities – A copy of this report shall accompany the truck and producer samples to the confirmation location, be kept on file at the screening location, and be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture with the BFSLS 477 Appendix N Bulk Tanker Positive Drug Residue Test Report immediately upon identifying a positive result.
 

When a regulatory seal is broken, the dairy plant permit holder shall immediately notify the Department by emailing the BFSLS 525 Pasteurization System Broken Seal Report​ to the assigned territory supervisor for the county of operation for authorization to perform the appropriate pasteurization equipment tests. The pasteurization system shall not be allowed to operate until the pasteurization equipment with the broken seal has been tested and resealed by the Department or the facility is authorized to operate as outlined by FDA's M-I-13-3 guidelines and the Bureau's Pasteurization System Broken Seal Procedures​.
 

Please direct all inquiries related to laboratory evaluations to RA-AGMILKPROGRAM@pa.gov.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture approves commercial laboratories and milk facilities to perform tests required by current regulations. Regulatory compliance is mandatory for raw milk, pasteurized milk, other dairy products, and frozen desserts.

Entities licensed by the department that process and package pasteurized milk, dairy products, frozen dessert, raw milk permits, and producer testing, use commercial laboratories to ensure regulatory compliance.

Check out the Pennsylvania Laboratory Evaluation Program page to learn more about this program.