V., Criteria 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 of this Ordinance, with or without hard copy, may be used in place of temperature-recording records.

NOTE: With the above cited Criteria within Appendix H., V. of this Ordinance, the words “dairy farm” shall be substituted for “milk plant” wherever the words “milk plant” appears.

  • The temperature-recording device shall be verified every six (6) months and documented in a manner acceptable to the Regulatory Agency using an accurate (+/- 1oC (2oF)) thermometer that has been calibrated by a traceable standard thermometer, within the past six
  • months, with the results and date recorded and the thermometer being properly identified, or by using a traceable standard thermometer that has been calibrated within the last year.
  • Temperature-recording records shall be maintained on the premises for a period of a minimum of six (6) months and are available for review by the Regulatory Agency. Except that, the electronic storage of required temperature records, with or without hard copy, shall be acceptable, provided the computer and computer generated temperature records are readily available for review by the Regulatory Agency.
  • The temperature-recording device should be installed in an area convenient to the milk storage tank and acceptable to the Regulatory Agency.
  • The temperature-recording device sensor shall be located to permit the registering of the temperature of the contents when the tank contains no more than twenty percent (20%) of its calibrated capacity.
  • The temperature-recording device shall comply with the current technical specifications for tank recording thermometers.
  • A temperature-recording device and/or any other device that meets the intent of these ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES and technical specifications and is acceptable to the Regulatory Agency can be used to monitor/record the bulk tank temperature.
  • The temperature-recording records shall properly identify the producer, date installed, tank or silo identification, if more than one (1), and signature or initials of the person installing the record.

ITEM 19r. INSECT AND RODENT CONTROL

Effective measures shall be taken to prevent the contamination of milk, containers, utensils and equipment by insects and rodents and by chemicals used to control such vermin. Milkhouses 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. Feed shall be stored in such a manner that it will not attract birds, rodents or insects.

PUBLIC HEALTH REASON

Proper manure disposal reduces the breeding of flies, which are considered capable of transmitting infection by physical contact or through excreta to milk or milk containers, utensils or equipment. Insects visit unsanitary places, they may carry pathogenic organisms on their bodies and they may carry living bacteria for as long as four (4) weeks within their bodies, and they may pass them on to succeeding generations by infecting their eggs. Effective screening tends to prevent the presence of flies, which are a public health menace. Flies may contaminate the milk with microorganisms, which may multiply and become sufficiently numerous to present a public health hazard. The surroundings of a dairy should be kept neat and clean in order to reduce insect and rodent harborages.