Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-17-.04
Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024
Section 420-3-17-.04 - Farm Requirements For Milk For Manufacturing(1) Health of Herd (a) General Health - All animals in the herd shall be maintained in a healthy condition, and shall be properly fed and kept.(b) Tuberculin test - The cows shall be located in a Modified Accredited Area, an Accredited Free State, or an Accredited Free Herd as determined by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The goats shall be located in States meeting the current USDA Uniform Methods and Rules and for Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication or an Accredited Free Goat Herd. If the animals are not located in such areas, they shall be tested annually under the jurisdiction of the aforesaid program. All additions to the herd shall be from an area or from herds meeting those same requirements.(c) Brucellosis test - The cows shall be located in States meeting Class B status, or Certified-Free Herds, or shall be involved in a milk ring test program or blood testing program under the current USDA Brucellosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. All additions to the herd shall be from a State or from herds meeting these same requirements.(d) Abnormal milk - Milk from cows known to be infected with mastitis or milk containing residues of antibiotics or other drugs, or milk containing pesticides or other chemical residues in excess of the established limits shall not be sold or offered for sale for human food. The milk shall be disposed of as the Health Department may direct.(2) Milking facility and housing. (a) A milking barn or milking parlor of adequate size and arrangement shall be provided to permit normal sanitary milking operations. It shall be well lighted and ventilated, and the floors and gutters in the milking area shall be constructed of concrete or other impervious material. The facility shall be kept clean, the manure removed daily and stored to prevent access of cows to accumulation thereof; and no swine or fowl shall be permitted in any part of the milking area.(b) If milk is exposed during straining or transferring in the milking areas it shall be protected from falling particles from areas above milk facility.(c) The yard or loafing area shall be of ample size to prevent overcrowding, shall be drained to prevent forming of standing water pools, insofar as practicable, and shall be kept clean.(3) Milking procedure. (a) The udders and flanks of all milking cows shall be kept clean. The udders and teats shall be washed or wiped immediately before milking with a clean single-service towel moistened with a sanitizing solution and wiped dry, or by any other sanitary method.(b) The milkers outer clothing shall be clean and his hands clean and dry. No person with an infected cut or open sores on their hands or arms shall milk cows, or handle milk or milk containers, utensils or equipment.(c) Cows which secrete abnormal milk shall be milked last or with separate equipment. This milk shall be excluded from the supply as required in Section .04(1).(d) Milk stools, surcingles and antikickers shall be kept clean and properly stored. Dusty operations should not be conducted immediately before or during milking. Strong flavored feeds should only be fed after milking.(4) Cooling. (a) Milk in cans shall be cooled immediately after milking (to 50° F. or lower) unless delivered to the plant within 2 hours after milking. The cooler, tank, or refrigerated unit shall be kept clean.(b) Milk in farm bulk tanks shall be cooled to 40° F. or lower within 2 hours after milking and maintained at 50° F. or lower until transferred to the transport tank.(5) Milkhouse or milkroom. (a) A milkhouse or milkroom conveniently located and properly constructed, lighted, and ventilated shall be provided for handling and cooling milk and for washing, handling and storing the utensils and equipment. Other products shall not be handled in the milkroom which would be likely to contaminate milk, or otherwise create a public health hazard.(b) It shall be equipped with wash and rinse vat, utensil rack, milk cooling facilities and have an adequate supply of hot water available for cleaning milking equipment. If a part of the barn or other building, it shall be partitioned, screened, and sealed to prevent the entrance of dust, flies, or other contamination. A milking parlor used strictly as a milking facility in combination with a milkhouse or milkroom, when properly equipped, arranged and maintained, need not be partitioned. Concentrates and feed, if stored in the building, shall be kept in a tightly covered box or bin. The floor of the building shall be of concrete or other impervious material and graded to provide proper drainage. The walls and ceilings shall be constructed of smooth easily cleaned material. All outside doors shall open outward and be self-closing, unless they are provided with tight-fitting screen doors that open outward or unless other effective means are provided to prevent the entrance of flies.(c) If a farm bulk tank is used, it shall be properly located in the milkhouse or milkroom for access to all areas for cleaning and servicing. It shall not be located over a floor drain or under a ventilator.(d) A small platform or slab constructed of concrete or other impervious material shall be provided outside the milk-house, properly centered under a suitable port opening in the wall for milkhouse connections. The opening shall be fitted with a tight, self-closing door. The truck approach to the milkhouse or milkroom shall be properly graded and surfaced to prevent mud or pooling of water at point of loading.(e) The milkhouse or milkroom and appurtenances shall be kept clean and free of trash, animals, and fowl. Pesticides shall not be stored in this room and when used shall be used in accordance with label instructions so as to prevent contamination of the milk.(6) Utensils and equipment. (a) Utensils, milk cans, milking machines (including pipeline systems), and other equipment used in the handling of milk shall be maintained in good condition, shall be free from rust, open seams, milkstone, or any unsanitary condition, and shall be washed, rinsed, and drained after each milking, stored in suitable facilities, and sanitized immediately before use with at least 50 p.p.m. chlorine solution or its equivalent. New or replacement can lids shall be umbrella type. All new utensils and equipment shall comply with applicable 3-A Sanitary Standards.(b) Farm bulk tanks shall meet 3-A Sanitary Standards for construction at the time of installation and shall be installed in accordance with regulations of the Health Department.(c) Single service articles shall be properly stored and shall not be reused.(7) Water Supply - The dairy farm water supply shall be properly located, protected, and operated and shall be easily accessible, ample, and of safe, sanitary quality for the cleaning of dairy utensils and equipment. The water supply shall come from a source which is approved by the State Health Officer; or from a spring, dug well, driven well, bored well, or drilled well, the water from which complies with the standards of the State Health Officer. A source that does not conform with the construction requirements of the State regulatory authority, but is tested annually by an approved laboratory and found to be safe and of sanitary quality shall be satisfactory; provided, that after adoption of this regulation, any new sources of water supply or any farm water supply requiring repairs or reconstruction or any sources from which tested samples have been found unsatisfactory shall meet the construction requirements of the Health Department.(8) Sewage disposal - House, milkhouse or milkroom, and toilet wastes shall be disposed of in a manner that will not pollute the soil surface, contaminate any water supply, or be exposed to insects.(9) Qualifications for farm certification - Farm certification requires satisfactory compliance with the requirements in Subpart .04. Author:
Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-17-.04