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Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972

Regulations

Regulations relating to Hygiene Requirements for Milking Sheds, the Transport of Milk and Related Matters

Standards and Requirements

7. Milk containers and milking machine

 

(1) A milk container shall—
(a) be designed and constructed in such a way that it has smooth finish, free from open seams, cracks and rust stains to ensure that, where necessary, they can be adequately cleaned, disinfected and maintained to avoid the contamination of milk;
(b) not be made wholly or partly of copper, or any copper alloy or any toxic material;
(c) be constructed in such a way that any surface that comes into contact with milk is accessible for the purpose of washing and disinfection; and
(d) not be used for any other purpose except the handling of milk.

 

(2) A milking machine shall—
(a) be designed, constructed or manufactured in such a way that—
(i) the vacuum pipe of the machine can be drained to remove all the moisture;
(ii) be adequately cleaned, disinfected and maintained to avoid the contamination of milk;
(iii) is equipped with a device rendering visible the milk flow from each milk animal and;
(iv) comply with subregulation (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d);
(b) be durable and movable or capable of being disassembled to allow for maintenance, cleaning, disinfection, monitoring and, to facilitate inspection.

 

(3) A bulk farm tank shall—

(a) be designed, constructed or manufactured in such a way that it—

(i) has a drainage incline leading directly to the outlet point;
(ii) is fitted with an outlet pipe made or manufactured and fitted in a way that all liquid can drain out of such tank, and the end of such outlet pipe shall be screw-threaded and fitted with a screw-on cap permitting such end to be shut off;
(iii) is fitted with an automatic operated stirring mechanism capable, within five minutes of being put into operation, mixing the milk in such a tank;
(iv) is fitted with a thermometer capable of measuring the temperature of the milk in such tank accurately to the nearest two degree Celsius;
(v) is equipped to cool the milk in such tank to five degree Celsius or lower temperature within three hours, and, capable of keeping such cooled milk at a required temperature of between one and five degrees Celsius effectively;
(vi) is installed at a minimum distance of 0,5  metres from any roof, ceiling or wall to effectively keep the milk cool;
(vii) is insulated in such a way that when no cooling takes place, the temperature of the milk in such tank shall not increase by more than 3 degrees Celcius in 12 hours if the surrounding temperature is 32 degrees Celcius;
(b) comply mutates mutandis with the provisions of subregulation (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d);
(c) be able to allow for maintenance, cleaning, disinfection, monitoring, and, to facilitate inspection.

 

(4) The tank of a milk tanker shall—
(a) be designed, constructed and installed in such a way that:
(i) it has an incline leading to the outlet pipe so that the total contents of such tank can drain out of the tank through the outlet pipe while the vehicle itself is in a horizontal position;
(ii) is insulated in such a way that the temperature of the milk in such tank shall not increase by more than two degrees Celsius every 48 hours;
(iii) it has at least one opening fitted with dust-proof lid through which the inside of such tank can be inspected and shall be equipped so that all surfaces that come into contact with milk can be adequately cleaned, disinfected as prescribed in subregulation (6);
(c) comply mutatis mutandis with the provisions of subregulations (1)(a), (b), (c), (d) and (3)(c).

 

(5) Milk containers, and other fixed and unfixed apparatus and equipment shall be so washed and disinfected after use that they are clean, that fats and milk residues are dissolved and removed and that the bacteriological count on surfaces coming into contact with milk does not exceed 10 bacteria per 100 square millimeters of such surfaces after disinfection. The swabbing of the contact surfaces shall be conducted according to SABS Standard Test Method 763: Efficacy of Cleaning Plant, Equipment and Utensils: Swab Technique.