37-410 STANDARDS FOR HOLDING AND COOLING TANKS. - Idaho Statutes

TITLE 37

FOOD, DRUGS, AND OIL

CHAPTER 4

SANITARY INSPECTION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS

37-410. Standards for holding and cooling tanks. The following standards are hereby adopted relating to farm holding and/or cooling tanks:

A. Each producer desiring to install a farm holding and/or cooling tank shall obtain approval from the director of the department of agriculture of the state of Idaho or his duly authorized representative, and shall furnish the following information to said director:

1. Tank make, model, and capacity.

2. A sketch (approximately to scale) of the milk room floor plan showing location of tank, outlet of tank, wall opening for milk conductor tubing, other milk house equipment and access area for tank truck approach.

B. The milk house and/or milk room shall have a concrete floor of smooth finish easily cleanable.

C. Farm tanks and all equipment used in connection therewith shall comply with the Sanitary Standards Symbol Administrative Council, 3A standards in effect at the time of the passage of this act.

D. The farm tank shall be located in the milk room so as to provide not less than thirty-six inches (36") clearance on all working sides of the tank, provided, however, that in the case of producers using tanks at the time of the enactment of this act clearances as specified above may be waived by the director if the producer demonstrates his ability to keep the interior and exterior surfaces of the tank and the walls and floors of the milk house in a clean condition. All tanks shall be located so as to provide at least six (6) inches of clearance between the floor and bottom of tanks, except that a four (4) inch minimum clearance is acceptable if the bottom slopes upward at least six (6) inches in a horizontal distance of twelve (12) inches. Remote compressors which are located in milk rooms shall be so installed as to be easily cleanable. Floor drains shall be trapped and shall not be located under the farm tank.

E. A fixed, properly encased opening not less than six (6) inches above the floor of the milk house or the outside loading platform, whichever is higher, shall be provided in an exterior wall of the milk house on the side closest to the tank outlet to accommodate the milk conductor tubing used to pump the milk from the farm tank to the truck tank. Such openings shall not be less than six (6) inches or more than eight (8) inches in size and shall be provided with a flat, tight, self-closing device.

F. When electricity is the motive power for the milk transport tank milk pump, a lock type electrical connection with ground and weatherproof type receptacle located on the outside of the building with a switch box located on the inside of the building shall be provided.

G. Water for washing farm tanks shall be from an approved supply and shall be under pressure. Hoses for washing the milk house and the bulk tank shall be used for no other purpose and be stored on a rack convenient to the bulk tank. An automatic hot water storage tank (pressure type) shall be provided and shall be not less than thirty (30) gallons capacity and equipped with a thermostat capable of maintaining water temperature at least 140 Fahrenheit. Extra capacity higher temperature, or both shall be provided for CIP installations, off peak heating, and milk house heating or other hot water usages. Gas heaters, if used, shall be properly vented.

H. Adequate evenly distributed artificial light, not placed directly over the tank, shall be provided and shall be so located that cleaning will be easily accomplished. Adequate lighting may be obtained by providing two (2) one hundred fifty (150) watt flood lamps about one (1) foot from the ends of the tank and a one hundred (100) watt bulb over the wash vats.

I. Farm tanks shall be protected from overhead contamination.

J. All outside openings shall be screened and self-closing doors shall open outward.

K. The truck approach shall be properly graded and surfaced to prevent pooling of water at the point of loading. Adequate artificial light shall be provided to illuminate this area to facilitate loading during hours when natural light is insufficient. This area shall be provided with a concrete slab or an asphalt surface of sufficient size to effectively protect the milk conducting hose from contamination.

L. Cleaning and bactericidal treatment shall conform to regulations adopted by the department of agriculture. Farm tanks shall be thoroughly cleaned after each use, and then prior to the next milking exposed to two hundred (200) parts per million (1,000,000) of residual chlorine. In cases where farm tanks are equipped with removable drop pipes, a vat large enough and low enough for the washing and sanitizing of this equipment shall be provided. Chemical sprayers are recommended for sanitizing farm tanks and if utilized, shall be used for no other purpose.

M. Indicating thermometers on all farm tanks shall be kept in proper operating condition. The driver shall possess an accurate approved type thermometer to enable him to check the indicating thermometers of the farm bulk tanks. The department of agriculture, using an approved type thermometer, shall check, periodically, the indicating thermometer on farm bulk tanks to determine its accuracy.

N. Abnormal milk, adulterated milk and milk containing objectionable odors shall not be added to the farm tank. The sampler and/or tester shall check the milk for abnormalities before pumping the milk to the tank truck. The entire supply of milk in the farm tank shall be rejected if such milk is detected.

O. Bulk cooling tanks shall be designed and equipped with refrigeration to permit the cooling of the milk to 40 Fahrenheit or lower within two (2) hours after each milking, and maintain it at 45 Fahrenheit or below until picked up.

P. All steps necessary shall be employed to prevent the contamination of milk handled through bulk farm pick up. This shall pertain to all phases of this type of milk handling. The bulk farm tank and accessories shall be used for no other purpose than the handling of milk and the operations incident thereto.