Article 3. Dairy Farm Sanitation of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 15. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.

If any provision of this article is violated by any dairy farm, the dairy farm is insanitary, deficient, and unsatisfactory.

An open cesspool, pigpen, stagnant water, accumulation of manure or other filth shall not be permitted within 100 feet of the milk house or room, or within 50 feet of any milking barn, stanchions, or other place where milking is done.

Human excreta or other human wastes shall be properly disposed of by the use of flush toilets and septic tanks, approved pits, or chemical toilets. Such toilets shall be conveniently located and properly constructed, operated, and maintained, so that the waste is inaccessible to flies and does not pollute the surface soil or contaminate any water supply. No approved pit or chemical toilet, however, shall be permitted within 100 feet of the milk house or room or within 50 feet of any milking barn, stanchions, or other place where milking is done.

The buildings, yards, or enclosures shall not be filthy or insanitary, nor shall any part of such yards or enclosures, except pastures, be made the depositories of manure in heaps or otherwise, where it is allowed to ferment and decay.

The water supply for the milk house or room and dairy barn shall be properly located, constructed, and operated, easily accessible, adequate, protected against contamination, and of safe and sanitary quality. The bacterial quality shall conform to the standards of the State Board of Health for public supplies of drinking water.

The water supply for drinking by livestock shall not be stagnant, polluted with manure, urine drainage, decaying vegetable or animal matter, or pathogenic bacteria of any source.

No person who is connected with or employed on a dairy farm and liable to come in contact with the milk or cream of the dairy farm or the dairy farm operations shall be afflicted with any communicable disease or in a condition to disseminate the germs of any communicable disease.

A suitable milkhouse or room, which is properly screened to exclude flies or insects shall be provided and maintained for the separating, cooling, mixing, canning, and keeping, or otherwise caring for, the milk and cream. The milkhouse or room shall contain a two-compartment wash sink. The milkhouse or room shall not be used for any other purpose. It shall not be located in, or be a part of, any building in which fowls or animals, except milking cows, are housed, or be a part of any room where milking cows are held, or a part of, or communicate with, any room or place which is used by any person for sleeping or living accommodations.

The pails, cans, bottles, or other containers for milk or its products, or the strainers, coolers or other utensils, appliances, apparatus, or equipment which come in contact with the milk or its products shall be thoroughly washed and afterwards sterilized each time they are used by one of the following methods:
  (a) Exposure to water vapor at a temperature of not less than 170 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of at least 15 minutes or at a temperature of not less than 200 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of at least five minutes in a steam cabinet equipped with an indicating thermometer which is located in the coldest zone.
  (b) Exposure to an enclosed jet of steam for not less than one minute.
  (c) Complete immersion in hot water at a temperature of not less than 170 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of at least five minutes.
  (d) Exposure to a flow of hot water of a temperature of not less than 170 degrees Fahrenheit, as determined at an outlet, for a period of at least five minutes.
  (e) Exposure to hot air at a temperature of not less than 180 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of at least 20 minutes in an oven or hot air cabinet which is equipped with an indicating thermometer located in the coldest zone.
  (f) A chemical or other sterilization process which has been approved by the director and which is used in the manner which is established by regulation of the director.

Multiuse containers, equipment and utensils used in the handling, storage and transportation of milk shall be made of smooth, nonabsorbent, corrosion-resistant, nontoxic materials and shall be so constructed as to be easily cleanable. All containers, equipment, and utensils shall be in good repair. All milk pails used for handmilking and stripping shall be seamless and of the hooded type having an opening not exceeding one-third of the area of an open pail of the same size. All can lids shall cover the pouring lip so as to protect such lip from contamination.

The containers, appliances, or equipment, after sterilization, shall be adequately dried and protected from flies, dust, and other contamination.

No container, utensil, appliance, or equipment shall be used for any purpose except the handling of milk or products of milk.

The udders, flanks, hind legs, and tails of cows or goats shall be reasonably clean during milking.

The milk or cream shall be protected from contamination by dust and flies.

The person or wearing apparel of the dairyman, his employees, or other persons who handle the milk or its products and containers or equipment of the milk or its products shall not be soiled and shall be washed with reasonable frequency.

The hands of milkers shall be clean and dry during the entire period of milking.

The milk or cream shall be cooled as provided in Section 35783 and so maintained until delivery to a milk products plant.

The interior of the milking barn or milk house or room shall be kept clean and free from accumulated dust and cobwebs.

The walls of the milking barn shall not become soiled with manure, urine, or other filth.

The feed shall not be spoiled or otherwise unfit for feeding cows or goats and the production of milk.