N.M. Admin. Code § 21.34.2.18

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 21.34.2.18 - SANITATION STANDARDS

A. Cows health.

(1) A tuberculin test of all herds and additions thereto shall be made before any milk therefrom is sold, and at least once every twelve (12) months thereafter, by a veterinarian recognized by the state livestock board and the United States department of agriculture, animal disease eradication branch. Said tests shall be made and any reactors disposed of in accordance with the requirements approved by the U.S. department of agriculture, animal disease eradication branch. A certificate identifying each animal, by number, signed by the veterinarian or attested to by the department and filed as directed by the department, shall be evidence of the above test.

(2) Cows which show a complete induration of one quarter or extensive induration in one or more quarters of the udder upon physical examination, whether secreting abnormal milk or not, shall be permanently excluded from the milking herd: provided that this shall not apply in case of a quarter that is completely dry. Cows giving bloody, stringy or otherwise abnormal milk, but without entire or extensive induration of the udder, shall be excluded from the herd until reexamination shows that the milk has become normal.

(3) Results of all brucella ring tests performed in New Mexico by the U.S. department of agriculture laboratories and the scientific laboratory division shall be filed with the department. When the results of brucella ring test are positive, the herd must be individually tested and any reactors disposed of in accordance with the requirements approved by the U.S. department of agriculture, animal disease eradication branch.

(4) Cows which show evidence of the secretion of abnormal milk in one or more quarters, based upon bacteriological, chemical or physical amination, shall be milked last or with separate equipment; and the milk shall be discarded. Cows treated with, or cows which have consumed chemical, medicinal or radioactive agents which are capable of being secreted in the milk and which, in the judgment of the department, may be deleterious to human health, shall be milked last or with separate equipment, and the milk disposed of as the department may direct.

(5) For diseases other than brucellosis and tuberculosis, the department shall require such physical, chemical or bacteriological tests as it deems necessary to protect public health.

B. Milking barns.

(1) Milking barn lighting. A milking barn, stable or parlor shall be provided. It shall be provided with adequate light, properly distributed, for both day and night milking.

(2) Milking barn air space and ventilation. Such sections of the milking barn or parlor where cows are milked, shall be well ventilated with either normal or artificial means.

(3) Milking barn floors. The floors and gutters of that portion of the barn or parlor in which cows are milked shall be constructed of concrete or other approved, impervious and easily cleaned material. Floors and gutters shall be graded so as to drain properly and shall be kept clean and in good repair. No swine or fowl shall be permitted in the milking barn or parlor.

(4) Milking barn walls and ceilings. The interior walls and ceilings of the milking barn or parlor shall be painted as often as may be necessary, or finished in an approved manner and shall be kept clean and in good repair. A tight ceiling is required. If feed should be ground or mixed or sweet feed should be stored, in a feed room or feed storage space which adjourns the milking area, it shall be separated therefrom by a dust-tight door.

C. Manure disposal. All manure shall be removed or disposed of in such a manner as best to prevent the breeding of flies therein and shall be inaccessible to cows.

D. Milk house and milk washroom construction and equipment. There shall be provided a milk house or milk room for the cooling, storing of raw milk and raw milk products and packaging. There shall be a washroom for the washing, bactericidal treatment and storing of milk containers and utensils.

(1) The milk house or room and the washroom shall be provided with a smooth floor, constructed of concrete or other impervious material maintained in good repair and graded to provide proper drainage.

(2) Both rooms shall have walls and ceilings of such construction as to permit easy cleaning and shall be well painted or finished in an approved manner.

(3) They shall be well lighted and well ventilated.

(4) They shall have all openings effectively screened, including outward opening self-closing doors unless other effective means are provided to prevent the entrance of flies and insects.

(5) They shall not be used for any purpose other than those specified above, except as may be approved by the department; they shall not open directly into a milking barn, parlor or room used for domestic purposes; provided that a direct opening between the milk house and milking barn or parlor is permitted when a tight-fitting, self-closing solid door(s) hinged to be single or double acting is provided.

(6) The washroom shall have water piped into it and shall have adequate facilities for heating water to clean utensils and milking equipment; and it shall be equipped with a three-compartment stationary sink, wash, rinse and sanitizing vats.

(7) The milk house or room shall have convenient handwashing facilities, soap and towels.

(8) Calf bottles, medicinals and pesticides shall not be stored in the milk room.

E. Milk house and washroom and flies. The floors, walls, ceilings, windows and equipment of the milk room or washroom shall be kept clean at all times and all approved means for the elimination of flies shall be used.

F. Toilet. Each dairy farm shall be provided with one or more sanitary toilets, conveniently located and properly constructed, operated and maintained, so that waste is inaccessible to flies and does not contaminate surface or ground water.

G. Water supply. Water for all dairy purposes shall be from a supply in conformance with environmental improvement board water supply regulations. Water samples for bacteria analysis shall be obtained and comply with drinking water standards before a permit is issued. It shall be sampled after all work is completed, after breaking the seal on the plate and routinely sampled once a year for coliform bacteria.

H. Utensils.

(1) All multi-use containers and equipment, pipeline milking systems and other equipment in the handling, storage, bottling, capping or transportation of raw milk or raw milk products shall be made of smooth, nonabsorbent, non-corrodible, non-toxic material, shall be fabricated and installed as to be easily cleaned and shall be self draining and kept in good repair, as recommended in the 3-A sanitary standards. Woven wire cloth shall not be used and shall not be reused. All milk pails shall be of the seamless hooded type. All single-service articles shall have been manufactured, packaged, transported, stored and handled in a sanitary method.

(2) All multi-use containers, equipment and other utensils used in the handling, storage, filling, capping or transportation of raw milk and raw milk products shall be thoroughly cleaned immediately after each usage.

(3) All multi-use containers, equipment, pipelines and other utensils used in milking, packaging, capping of raw milk and raw milk products shall, before each usage, be subjected effectively to an approved bactericidal process using steam, hot water, chemicals or hot air.

(4) All containers, strainer pads and other milking equipment used in the production, transportation of raw milk and raw milk products unless stored in bactericidal solutions, shall be stored as to drain dry and so as not to be contaminated before being used. All ports and openings shall be covered on bulk milk utensils which contain milk. Crates in which clean bottles are stored shall be kept clean and bottles inverted and elevated above the floor to prevent contamination.

(5) After bactericidal treatment, containers and other raw milk and raw milk product utensils and equipment shall be handled in such a manner as to prevent contamination of any surface with which raw milk and raw milk products come into contact.

I. Milking udders and tests.

(1) Milking shall be done in the milking barn or parlor.

(2) The udders and teats of each milking cow shall be washed until clean with a bactericidal solution approved by the department using one or more single service towels and completely dried with one or more different single service towels. If an iodine bactericidal agent is used, the minimum concentration of iodine shall be 25 ppm. Other bactericidal agents and concentrations may be used as approved by the director of the department. The bactericidal solution shall be maintained at approved strength throughout the entire milking process.

(3) Abnormal milk shall be kept out of the raw milk supply and be so handled and disposed of as to preclude the infection of the healthy cows and the contamination of milking utensils.

(4) Cows giving abnormal milk shall be milked last.

J. Milking-flanks. The flanks and tails of all milking cows shall be free from visible dirt at the time of milking. All brushing shall be completed before milking commences.

K. Milkers' hands.

(1) Milkers' hands shall be washed clean, rinsed with an effective bactericidal solution and dried with a single service towel, immediately before milking and immediately after any interruption in the milking operation.

(2) Wet hand milking is prohibited.

(3) Convenient hand washing facilities shall be provided for washing of milkers' hands.

(4) No person with an infected cut or lesion on hands or arms shall milk cows, or handle milking utensils or other equipment.

L. Clean clothing. All personnel shall wear clean outer garments while milking or handling milk, milk products, containers, utensils or equipment.

M. Removal of milk.

(1) Each pail or can of milk shall be removed immediately to the milk house or milk room.

(2) No milk shall be strained or poured in the milking barn or parlor, unless it is protected from flies and other contamination.

N. Bottling and capping.

(1) Raw milk and raw milk products shall be bottled on the farm where produced.

(2) Bottling and capping shall be done in a sanitary method by means of approved mechanical filler and capper and these operations shall be integral in one machine.

(3) Caps or cap stock shall be purchased in sanitary containers and shall be stored in such a manner that will preclude contamination.

O. Vehicles and surroundings.

(1) All vehicles used for the transportation of raw milk or raw milk products shall be constructed and operated so as to protect their contents from the sun, from freezing and from contamination.

(2) All vehicles used for the distribution of raw milk and raw milk products shall have the distributor's name and address prominently displayed thereon.

P. The immediate surroundings of the dairy shall be kept in a clean, neat condition to prevent breeding of flies and rodents.

N.M. Admin. Code § 21.34.2.18

7/1/97; 21.34.2.18 NMAC - Rn, 21 NMAC 34.2.18, 05/29/09