Cleaning and Sanitizing of Raw Milk Containers and Equipment

 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

Division of Food Safety

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:

5KER17-3   Cleaning and Sanitizing of Raw Milk Containers and Equipment

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FINDING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE: Hurricane Irma has created emergency conditions impacting the processing and storage of pasteurized Grade “A” milk thereby decreasing the availability pasteurized Grade “A” milk to consumers. In addition, the emergency conditions have reduced the availability of trucks and trailers to transfer raw milk from dairy farms to milk processing plants. On September 9, 2017, the Commissioner of Agriculture entered an emergency order ending September 15, 2017, implementing the same provisions that are being adopted by this emergency rule, which will replace and extend the emergency provisions until September 27, 2017.

REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES: The provisions of this rule are narrowly tailored to assist in the processing and distribution of pasteurized Grade “A” milk during the emergency conditions created by Hurricane Irma and to increase production of Grade “A” milk for consumers without a reduction to consumer food safety protections. Due to the emergency conditions, milk producers and processors may be forced to destroy unprocessed raw milk that is needed by consumers without the allowances provided by this emergency rule.

SUMMARY: This emergency rule allows for the increased storage time of raw milk at Grade “A” plants that meet certain requirements and extend the time between washed of bulk milk tankers under specified conditions.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS: Zachary Conlin, Chief, Bureau of Dairy Industry, 3125 Conner Blvd., MS C-18, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

5KER17-3 - Cleaning and Sanitizing of Raw Milk Containers and Equipment

Due to the emergency conditions created by Hurricane Irma, the following provisions shall apply from September 13, 2017, through September 27, 2017.

(1) Raw milk for pasteurization may be stored for up to 96 hours in an approved raw milk silo at a permitted FDACS Grade “A” milk plant that has 7-day temperature recording charts or electronic records that comply with Appendix H., IV., and V. of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance as adopted in Rule 5K-10.001, F.A.C. The raw milk shall be maintained at a constant temperature not to exceed 45 °F.

(2) Bulk milk tankers used for the transportation of Grade “A” raw milk for pasteurization may continuously pickup and deliver multiple loads within a thirty (30) hour period without a wash between loads.  However, a bulk milk tanker that picks up and delivers a load that was determined to be in violation of Appendix N of the PMO, the ongoing Tetracycline Pilot Program, or any other test being conducted screening for adulterants and/or inhibitors in the milk, the bulk milk tanker must receive a full dairy wash at a permitted wash station before picking up its next load.

THIS RULE TAKES EFFECT UPON BEING FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE UNLESS A LATER TIME AND DATE IS SPECIFIED IN THE RULE.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 9/13/2017