SCHUMER HOLDS MEETING IN BATAVIA
On Monday, March 30th, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer held a constituent forum more>> with Christine A. Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division, who came to Batavia, New York at Schumer's urging to meet with Upstate New York dairy farmers and consumers to explore potential anticompetitive practices in the dairy industry. Varney is the nation's top antitrust investigator and she came to New York following a request by Schumer. The specific areas of focus during the forum included excessive market concentration, marketplace transparency and vertical integration in the dairy industry. Schumer hosted the meeting with Varney at the Genesee Community College in Batavia. During the meeting, constituents made statements and shared their concerns with Assistant Attorney General Varney.

"For too long farmers have been receiving rock-bottom prices for their products, while prices have not dropped commensurately for consumers at the stores", Schumer said. "It just doesn't add up. New York's dairy industry has suffered tremendously in the past few years, and as I've traveled throughout the state, I've heard from constituents who are concerned that the state of competition in New York's dairy industry may be playing a role. The Department of Justice did the right thing by sending the nation's top antitrust investigator to New York to discuss this vital issues with the people whose livelihoods depend on a fair and competitive market."

Northeast Dairy Foods Association, Inc. will respond to Sen. Schumer in follow up written testimony with information showing how retail prices have responded to farm milk pricing.
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NEW YORK STATE INSURANCE FUND FRAUD CHIEF LAPOINTE BRIEFS DAIRY INDUSTRY
The chief of the New York State Insurance Fund's Confidential Investigations unit briefed the association's Workers' Compensation Dairy Safety Group 426 on ways to detect potentially bogus workers' compensation claims among dairy workers. more>>

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The state-run fund's Fraud Chief Larry LaPointe spoke to the executive committee of the Northeast Dairy Foods Association Safety Group on Thursday Dec. 4. The safety group represents over five dozen of the region's dairy processors, manufacturers and distributor companies. Safety groups are associations of employers that receive premium discounts by the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) for safe workplace practices.

The Northeast Dairy Foods Association Safety Group was launched in 1949 and comprises over 60 dairy manufactures, processors and distributors, including Washburn Dairy, HP Hood, Garelick Farms, Farmland Dairies, Elmhurst, Byrne Dairy, Queens Farms, Dairy Barn Stores, Stewart's, Cabot Cheese Co., Sorrento Cheese and Upstate Niagara Cooperative among many others.

The NY State Insurance Funds said the Division of Criminal Investigations logged 148 arrests in 2008 with $20.7 million in restitution and potential savings. The majority of the arrests came from the State Fund, not private carriers.

LaPointe detailed a series of "red flags" in workers' compensation claims, including sketchy claim details, discrepancies in accident/injury reports, a claimant's behavior or employment history and the timing of a claim.

"Generally, if you find clusters of 'red flags' connected with a claim, the claim should be examined to determine if the claimant has lied about any material fact," LaPointe said.

Bruce W. Krupke, Exec. VP of Northeast Dairy Foods Assoc. Inc. said "Mr. LaPointe provided a great deal of information and assurance his group is doing an excellent job at helping to reduce and prevent fraudulent claims in our safety group which helps to reduce costs for everyone. He continued, "I encourage all employers and employees to be on the lookout for potential fraud and report suspected activity directly to Mr. LaPoint's unit for investigation.

The State Insurance Fund (www.nysif.com) provides a great deal of services including informational posters located at: SafetyPosters.aspx

The meeting was scheduled during the group's annual meeting at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. <<less

NYS BOTTLE DEPOSIT RETURNABLE CONTAINER ACT FOR BOTTLED WATER

Officially went into Effect November. 8th !
If your company sells Bottled Water, answers you need to know from Casey McCue, Director of Milk Inspection, NYS Dept. of Ag. and Markets.

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 1. Would licensed milk dealers be allowed to transport used beverage containers from customers in milk delivery vehicles back to their plants for processing?

Yes, as long as the practice of returning the beverage containers does not in any way shape or form create conditions that could contaminate the finished product. This practice is currently being used now with returnable glass milk containers.

 2. Will milk plants be allowed to store used beverage containers in their distribution facilities?

Yes, but must be done in a sanitary manner to preclude the contamination of the facility or the product stored in it. Again this is already being done with glass milk bottles.

 3. What would the process involve and would there be any specific restrictions?

This will be answered on a case by case basis due to everyone’s procedure and facilities being different. In short, the area would have to be kept clean. There shall be no leaking containers present that would create a cleanliness issue or an attractant for rodents and/or insects.

 4. Will milk delivery personnel be allowed to handle used beverage containers while making regular milk deliveries to their customers?

Yes, as long as the used containers are bundled in a manner that will not create a cross contamination issue between the driver and the finished product.

For more info, visit the NYS DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8500.html <<less