(1) BULK TANK
LOCATION. If a bulk tank is used to receive, cool, or store milk on a dairy
farm, the bulk tank shall be installed in the milkhouse. A bulk tank may be
installed so that a portion of the bulk tank protrudes through the wall of a
milkhouse, provided that all bulk tank openings are located inside the
milkhouse. Agitator seals, other than weatherproof agitator seals approved in
writing by the division, shall be located inside the milkhouse. Clearance of at
least 24 inches on the top and milk-outlet side shall be maintained on a bulk
tank not protruding through the milkhouse wall to permit effective cleaning,
sanitizing, and maintenance of the bulk tank. No bulk tank opening may be
located directly under a ventilator. No bulk tank may be located directly over
a floor drain.
(2) BULK TANK
CONSTRUCTION.
(a) The lining and milk contact
surfaces of a bulk tank shall be constructed of stainless steel or other
materials that are equally smooth, nontoxic, stable, non-absorbent, corrosion
resistant, and capable of withstanding cleaning and sanitizing treatment. Milk
contact surfaces shall be readily accessible for inspection.
(b) A bulk tank shall be self-draining.
Openings shall be equipped with self-draining covers. Openings and covers shall
be constructed and installed to prevent drainage into milk or onto milk contact
surfaces.
(c) A bulk tank shall be
equipped with all of the following:
1. An
indicating thermometer that has a range of at least 32° F. to 80°
F.
2. A temperature recording
device approved by the division, if the bulk tank was manufactured after
January 1, 2000. The temperature recording device shall comply with sub.
(3).
(d) A bulk tank
with a capacity of less than 1,500 gallons shall be equipped with a mechanical
agitator that will ensure homogeneity of all milk contained in the bulk tank
within 5 minutes after the agitator begins operating. A bulk tank with a
capacity of 1,500 gallons or more shall be equipped with an agitator that will
ensure homogeneity of all milk contained in the bulk tank within 10 minutes
after the agitator begins operating.
(e) A C-I-P bulk tank shall be designed and
constructed so that cleaning, rinsing, and sanitizing solutions cannot enter
the bulk tank while it contains milk.
Note: Bulk tanks manufactured in compliance
with the "3-A Sanitary Standards for Farm Milk Cooling and Holding Tanks" meet
the sanitary design and construction requirements of this subsection. The "3-A
Standards" are published by 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., 6888 Elm Street,
Suite 2D, McLean, VA 22101-3850, telephone (703) 790-0295, website www.3-a.org.
Copies of the "3-A Standards" as amended effective July 23, 2012, are on file
with the division and the legislative reference bureau. Copies may be obtained
from "3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., Online Store," at
http://www.techstreet.com.
(3) BULK TANK TEMPERATURE
RECORDING DEVICE. All of the following requirements apply to a temperature
recording device under sub. (2) (c) 2.:
(a)
The temperature recording device shall be capable of accurately recording
temperatures between 40°F. (4° C.) and 180°F. (82°
C.).
(b) A temperature recording
chart on which the temperature recording device records milk temperatures shall
have graduations of not more than 2° F. (1° C.) at temperatures below
100° F. (38° C.) and shall have at least one time span division per
hour. The circular chart shall make one revolution in not more than 7 days and
shall be graduated for a maximum record of 7 days.
(c) The milk producer shall retain milk
temperature records for at least 6 months after the temperature recording
device makes those records. Milk temperature records shall identify the milk
producer, the date or dates to which the records pertain, the bulk tank to
which the records pertain if there is more than one bulk tank on the dairy
farm, the signature of the person who removed the temperature records from the
temperature recording device, and any unusual occurrences related to milk
temperature.
(d) The dairy plant
operator who procures milk from the milk producer, or a milk contractor who
procures milk from the producer, shall calibrate the temperature recording
device every 6 months, or more often if specified by the manufacturer, and
shall keep complete and accurate records of the calibration. The dairy plant
operator shall make the records required under this section available to the
division for inspection and copying upon request.
(e) A milk producer keeping electronic
records in conformance with pars. (b), (c), and (d) shall develop a written
procedure for a division representative to use to review the records. The
written procedure shall be acceptable to the division and made available to a
division representative upon request.
(4) BULK TANK COOLING CAPACITY. A bulk milk
tank shall be capable of cooling all milk placed in the tank to 50°F.
(10°C.) or less within 4 hours after the start of the first milking, and to
45°F. (7°C) or less within 2 hours after the end of milking. The
temperature of the blended milk from the first milking and later milkings shall
not exceed 50°F. (10°C.).
(5) MILKING DIRECTLY TO BULK TRANSPORT
CONTAINER. A milk producer may milk directly to a bulk milk tanker holding a
grade A permit issued by the department or an equivalent regulatory agency in
another state, if all the following apply:
(a) The milk producer controls the operation
and maintenance of the bulk milk tanker.
Note: The milk producer is not required to own
the bulk milk tanker. A milk producer may not collect milk from another milk
producer, or commingle that milk with the milk producer's milk, unless the milk
producer operates as a bulk milk weigher and sampler under ch. ATCP 82. A milk
producer operating as a bulk milk weigher and sampler must hold a grade A bulk
milk tanker permit (if applicable), and a bulk milk weigher and sampler
license. The producer must also collect and sample milk according to ch. ATCP
82.
(b) The bulk milk tanker
is constructed and maintained according to bulk milk tanker standards set forth
in s.
ATCP 82.06.
(c)
The bulk milk tanker has an access port that can be sealed.
(d) The bulk milk tanker, while parked at the
dairy farm, is kept on a pad of concrete or equally impervious material. The
pad shall be sloped for proper drainage and shall be kept in a clean
condition.
(e) All permanent
pipelines connecting the bulk milk tanker to the milk handling system end in
the milkhouse.
(f) The bulk milk
tanker is parked such that the distance between the back of the tanker and the
milkhouse is minimized and the tanker to pipeline connection is made inside the
milkhouse.
(g) The milk producer
cools all milk to a temperature of 45° F. (7° C.) or lower before the
milk enters the bulk milk tanker. The milk producer may use a plate cooler,
tube cooler or bulk tank to cool the milk. Coolant used in cooling devices
shall comply with the requirements of s.
ATCP 65.10(6).
(h) A temperature recording device that
records milk temperatures downstream from the cooling device under par. (g).
The probe of the temperature recording device shall be mounted in a well in the
milk pipeline except that if the producer cools the milk in a bulk tank the
probe may be mounted in the bulk tank. The temperature recording device shall
comply with all of the requirements that apply to bulk tank temperature
recording devices under sub. (3).
(i) An indicating thermometer is installed as
close as possible to the temperature recording device, under par. (h), to
verify recorded temperatures.
(j)
The bulk milk tanker outlet valve is close-coupled and protected with an
effective dust cover.
(k) The milk
producer keeps the bulk milk cooling device, transport hose and bulk milk
tanker outlet valve in clean and sanitary condition. The milk producer shall
clean and sanitize the outlet valve before attaching the transport hose to it.
The milk producer shall clean and sanitize the bulk milk cooling device and
transport hose between milkings or at least once every 24 hours if the producer
milks continuously.
(l) The dairy
plant operator who receives the bulk milk shipment does all of the following
before unloading any milk from the bulk milk tanker or commingling it with milk
from another producer:
1. Tests the bulk
shipment for drug residues according to s.
ATCP 65.72.
2.
Ensures that a person, licensed under s.
97.17 or
98.146,
Stats., has collected a sample from the bulk shipment according to s.
ATCP 82.12.
(m) The dairy plant operator cleans and
sanitizes the bulk milk tanker after each milk shipment, the same as the
operator would clean and sanitize a bulk milk tanker under s.
ATCP 82.08. The dairy plant operator shall seal the access
port after cleaning and sanitizing the bulk milk tanker.
