Sanitation Requirements For Grade "A" Raw Milk

The following requirements shall be applicable to raw milk for pasteurization, ultrapasteurization or aseptic processing and Grade A raw milk for retail sale. (1) Abnormal Milk. Cows which show evidence of the secretion of abnormal milk in one or more quarters, based upon bacteriological, chemical, or physical examination, shall be milked last or with separate equipment and the milk shall be discarded. Cows treated with, or cows which have consumed chemical, medicinal or radioactive agents which are capable of being secreted in the milk and which, in the judgment of the regulatory agency, may be deleterious to human health, shall be milked last and the milk disposed of as the Department may direct. (2) Milking Barn, Stable, or Parlor -- Construction. A milking barn, stable, or parlor shall be provided on all dairy farms in which the milking herd shall be housed during milking time operations. The areas used for milking purposes shall: (a) In the case of new construction, have floors constructed of concrete or equally impervious material that are easily cleanable. Convalescent (maternity) pens located in milking areas of stanchion-type barns may be used subject to Departmental approval; (b) Have walls and ceiling which are smooth, painted or finished in an approved manner, in good repair, the ceiling shall be dust tight; (c) Have separate stalls or pens for horses, calves, and bulls; (d) Be provided with natural and/or artificial light, well distributed for day and/or night milking; (e) Provide sufficient air space and air circulation to prevent condensation and excessive odors; (f) Not be overcrowded; (g) Have dust tight covered boxes or bins, or separate storage facilities for ground, chopped, or concentrated feed. (3) Milking Barn Stable or Parlor -- Cleanliness. The interior shall be kept clean. Floors, walls, ceilings, windows, pipelines, and equipment shall be clean. Swine and fowl will be kept out of the milking barn. (4) Cowyard. The cowyard shall be graded and drained and shall have no standing pools of water or accumulations of organic wastes: provided, that in loafing or cattle-housing areas, cow droppings and soiled bedding shall be removed, or clean bedding added, at sufficiently frequent intervals to prevent the soiling of the cow's udder and flanks. Waste feed shall not be allowed to accumulate. Manure packs shall be properly drained and shall provide a reasonably firm footing. Swine shall be kept out of the cowyard. (5) Milkhouse or Room -- Construction and Facilities. (a) A milkhouse or room of sufficient size shall be provided, in which the cooling, handling, and storing of milk and the washing, sanitizing, and storing of milk containers and utensils shall be conducted: Except as provided for in 330 CMR 27.07(12). (b) The milkhouse shall be provided with a smooth floor constructed of concrete or equally impervious material graded to drain and maintained in good repair. Liquid waste shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner; all floor drains shall be accessible and shall be trapped if connected to a sanitary sewer system. (c) The walls and ceilings shall be constructed of smooth material, in good repair, well painted, or finished in an equally suitable manner. (d) The milkhouse shall have adequate natural and/or artificial light and be well ventilated. (e) The milkhouse shall be used for no other purpose than milkhouse operations; there shall be no direct opening into any barn, stable, or into a room used for domestic purposes: provided, That a direct opening between the milkhouse and milking barn, stable, or parlor is permitted when a tight-fitting, self-closing solid door(s) hinged to be single or double acting is provided. (f) Hot and cold water under pressure shall be piped into the milkhouse. (g) The milkhouse shall be equipped with a two-compartment wash vat and adequate hot water heating facilities. (h) A properly constructed cooling tank of sufficient size and depth or other approved cooling facilities shall be provided in the milk house, milkroom or other approved location. (i) The cooling facilities shall be used for no other purposes than the cooling and storage of milk. They shall be protected from contamination and maintained in a sanitary condition. (j) When a transportation tank is used for the cooling and/or storage of milk on the dairy farm, such tank shall be provided with a suitable shelter for the receipt of milk. Such shelter shall be adjacent to, but not a part of, the milkroom and shall comply with the requirements of the milkroom with respect to construction, light, drainage, insect and rodent control, and general maintenance. (6) Milkhouse or Room -- Cleanliness. The floors, walls, ceilings, windows, tables, shelves, cabinets, wash vats, non-product contact surfaces of milk containers, utensils and equipment and other milkroom equipment shall be clean. Only articles directly related to milkroom activities shall be permitted in the milkroom. The milkroom shall be free of trash, animals, and fowl. (7) Toilet. Every dairy farm shall be provided with one or more toilets, conveniently located and properly constructed, operated, and maintained in a sanitary manner. The waste shall be inaccessible to flies and shall not pollute the soil surface or contaminate any water supply. (8) Water Supply. Water for milkhouse and milking operations shall be from a potable water source properly located, protected, and operated, and shall be easily accessible, adequate and of a safe, sanitary quality. (9) Utensils and Equipment -- Construction. (a) All multiuse containers, equipment, and utensils used in the handling, storage, or transportation of milk, or with which milk or milk products otherwise come into contact, shall be made of smooth, nonabsorbent, corrosion-resistant, nontoxic materials, and shall be so constructed as to be easily cleaned. All containers, utensils, and equipment shall be in good repair. All milk pails shall be seamless and milk pails used for hand milking shall be of the hooded type. Multiple-use woven material shall not be used for straining milk. All single-service articles shall be non-toxic and have been manufactured, packaged, transported, and handled in a sanitary manner. Articles intended for single-service use shall not be reused. (b) Farm holding/cooling tanks, welded sanitary piping, and transportation tanks shall comply with 3-A Sanitary Standards. (10) Utensils and Equipment -- Cleaning. The product-contact surfaces of all multiuse containers, equipment, and utensils used in the handling, storage, or transportation of milk shall be cleaned after each usage. (11) Utensils and Equipment -- Sanitization. The product-contact surface of all multi-use containers, equipment and utensils used in the handling, storage or transportation of milk shall be sanitized before each usage. (12) Utensils and Equipment -- Storage. All containers, utensils and equipment used in the handling, storage, or transportation of milk, unless stored in sanitizing solutions, shall be stored to assure complete drainage, and shall be protected from contamination prior to use provided that pipeline milking equipment such as milking claws, inflations, weigh jars, meters, milk hoses, milk receivers, tubular coolers, plate coolers and milk pumps which are designed for mechanical cleaning and other equipment as accepted by FDA, which meets these criteria may be stored in the milking barn or parlor provided this equipment is designed, installed and operated to protect the product and solution-contact surfaces from contamination at all times. (13) Utensils and Equipment -- Handling. After sanitization, all containers, utensils, and equipment shall be handled in such manner as to prevent contamination of any product-contact surface. (14) Milking -- Flanks, Udders, and Teats. Milking shall be done in the milking barn, stable, or parlor. The flanks, udders, bellies, and tails of all cows shall be free from visible dirt. All brushing shall be completed prior to milking. The udders and teats of all milking cows shall be clean and dry before milking. Teats shall be treated with a sanitizing solution just prior to the time of milking, and shall be wiped dry before milking. Wet hand milking is prohibited. (15) Milking -- Surcingles, Milk Stools, and Antikickers. Surcingles, milk stools, and antikickers shall be kept clean and stored above the floor. (17) Protection from Contamination. Milking and milk house operations, equipment, and facilities shall be located and conducted to prevent any contamination of milk, equipment, containers, and utensils. No milk shall be strained, poured, transferred, or stored unless it is properly protected from contamination. (17) Personnel -- Hand-Washing Facilities. Adequate hand-washing facilities shall be provided, including a lavatory fixture with running water, soap or detergent, and individual sanitary towels, convenient to the milkhouse, milking barn, stable, parlor, and flush toilet. (18) Personnel -- Cleanliness. Hands shall be washed clean and dried with an individual sanitary towel immediately before milking, before performing any milkhouse function and immediately after the interruption of these activities. Milkers and milk haulers shall wear clean outer garments while milking or handling milk, milk containers, utensils, or equipment. (19) Cooling. Raw milk for pasteurization or retail sale shall be cooled to 40°F (4.45°C) or less within two hours after milking: Provided, that the blend temperature after the first milking and subsequent milkings does not exceed 50°F (10°C). (20) Vehicles. Vehicles used to transport milk from the dairy farm to the milk plant or receiving station shall be constructed and operated to protect their contents from sun, freezing, and contamination. Such vehicles shall be kept clean, inside and out and no substance capable of contaminating milk shall be transported with milk. (21) Insect and Rodent Control. Effective measures shall be taken to prevent the contamination of milk, containers, equipment, and utensils by insects and rodents and by chemicals used to control such vermin. Milk rooms shall be free of insects and rodents. Surroundings shall be kept neat, clean, and free of conditions which might harbor or be conducive to the breeding of insects and rodents.