Section 65.16. Bulk tanks and bulk transport containers.

 

(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.

(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.

(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.

CR 14-073 : cr. Register August 2016 No. 728 , eff. 9-1-16; correction in (3) (e) made under s. 35.17 , Stats., Register August 2016 No. 728 .

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 [phone], 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 . Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 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 . Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1