Feb 9^th 1998
Dr R.L. Rissler, Acting Director,
Operational Support, Veterinary Services
Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service
US Department of Agriculture
4700 River Road, Unit 33
Riverdale, Maryland 20737

Dear Dr. Rissler,

I have been asked to respond to a request from Joan M. Arnoldi, to Dr. Stephen Sundlof, Director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Veterinary Medicine, regarding Resolution 16, "Pasteurization Standards," passed at the annual meeting of the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA). I apologize for the delay in my response to you.

In this resolution, USAHA requested that FDA "...review scientific data on the thermal tolerance of M. paratuberculosis and report to the Johne's Committee of the USAHA an opinion whether current pasteurization standards are sufficient to insure complete killing of M. paratuberculosis in raw milk."

We are pleased to provide this response to that resolution. After a review of the available literature on this subject, it is the position of FDA that the latest research shows conclusively that commercial pasteurization does indeed eliminate this hazard.

cc:
Joan M. Arnoldi
Deputy Administrator, APHIS
USDA

Dr. Stephen Sundlof
Center for Veterinary Medicine
7500 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855-2773