2005 Idaho Code - 37-410 — STANDARDS FOR HOLDING AND COOLING TANKS

                                  TITLE  37
                             FOOD, DRUGS, AND OIL
                                  CHAPTER 4
                    SANITARY INSPECTION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
    37-410.  STANDARDS FOR HOLDING AND COOLING TANKS. The following standards
are hereby adopted relating to farm holding and/or cooling tanks:
    A.  Each producer desiring to install a farm holding and/or cooling tank
shall obtain approval from the director of the department of agriculture of
the state of Idaho or his duly authorized representative, and shall furnish
the following information to said director:
    1.  Tank make, model, and capacity.
    2.  A sketch (approximately to scale) of the milk room floor plan showing
location of tank, outlet of tank, wall opening for milk conductor tubing,
other milk house equipment and access area for tank truck approach.
    B.  The milk house and/or milk room shall have a concrete floor of smooth
finish easily cleanable.
    C.  Farm tanks and all equipment used in connection therewith shall comply
with the Sanitary Standards Symbol Administrative Council, 3A standards in
effect at the time of the passage of this act.
    D.  The farm tank shall be located in the milk room so as to provide not
less than thirty-six inches (36") clearance on all working sides of the tank,
provided, however, that in the case of producers using tanks at the time of
the enactment of this act clearances as specified above may be waived by the
director if the producer demonstrates his ability to keep the interior and
exterior surfaces of the tank and the walls and floors of the milk house in a
clean condition. All tanks shall be located so as to provide at least six (6)
inches of clearance between the floor and bottom of tanks, except that a four
(4) inch minimum clearance is acceptable if the bottom slopes upward at least
six (6) inches in a horizontal distance of twelve (12) inches. Remote
compressors which are located in milk rooms shall be so installed as to be
easily cleanable. Floor drains shall be trapped and shall not be located under
the farm tank.
    E.  A fixed, properly encased opening not less than six (6) inches above
the floor of the milk house or the outside loading platform, whichever is
higher, shall be provided in an exterior wall of the milk house on the side
closest to the tank outlet to accommodate the milk conductor tubing used to
pump the milk from the farm tank to the truck tank. Such openings shall not be
less than six (6) inches or more than eight (8) inches in size and shall be
provided with a flat, tight, self-closing device.
    F.  When electricity is the motive power for the milk transport tank milk
pump, a lock type electrical connection with ground and weatherproof type
receptacle located on the outside of the building with a switch box located on
the inside of the building shall be provided.
    G.  Water for washing farm tanks shall be from an approved supply and
shall be under pressure. Hoses for washing the milk house and the bulk tank
shall be used for no other purpose and be stored on a rack convenient to the
bulk tank. An automatic hot water storage tank (pressure type) shall be
provided and shall be not less than thirty (30) gallons capacity and equipped
with a thermostat capable of maintaining water temperature at least 140
Fahrenheit. Extra capacity higher temperature, or both shall be provided for
CIP installations, off peak heating, and milk house heating or other hot water
usages. Gas heaters, if used, shall be properly vented.
    H.  Adequate evenly distributed artificial light, not placed directly over
the tank, shall be provided and shall be so located that cleaning will be
easily accomplished. Adequate lighting may be obtained by providing two (2)
one hundred fifty (150) watt flood lamps about one (1) foot from the ends of
the tank and a one hundred (100) watt bulb over the wash vats.
    I.  Farm tanks shall be protected from overhead contamination.
    J.  All outside openings shall be screened and self-closing doors shall
open outward.
    K.  The truck approach shall be properly graded and surfaced to prevent
pooling of water at the point of loading. Adequate artificial light shall be
provided to illuminate this area to facilitate loading during hours when
natural light is insufficient. This area shall be provided with a concrete
slab or an asphalt surface of sufficient size to effectively protect the milk
conducting hose from contamination.
    L.  Cleaning and bactericidal treatment shall conform to regulations
adopted by the department of agriculture. Farm tanks shall be thoroughly
cleaned after each use, and then prior to the next milking exposed to two
hundred (200) parts per million (1,000,000) of residual chlorine. In cases
where farm tanks are equipped with removable drop pipes, a vat large enough
and low enough for the washing and sanitizing of this equipment shall be
provided. Chemical sprayers are recommended for sanitizing farm tanks and if
utilized, shall be used for no other purpose.
    M.  Indicating thermometers on all farm tanks shall be kept in proper
operating condition. The driver shall possess an accurate approved type
thermometer to enable him to check the indicating thermometers of the farm
bulk tanks. The department of agriculture, using an approved type thermometer,
shall check, periodically, the indicating thermometer on farm bulk tanks to
determine its accuracy.
    N.  Abnormal milk, adulterated milk and milk containing objectionable
odors shall not be added to the farm tank. The sampler and/or tester shall
check the milk for abnormalities before pumping the milk to the tank truck.
The entire supply of milk in the farm tank shall be rejected if such milk is
detected.
    O.  Bulk cooling tanks shall be designed and equipped with refrigeration
to permit the cooling of the milk to 40  Fahrenheit or lower within two (2)
hours after each milking, and maintain it at 45  Fahrenheit or below until
picked up.
    P.  All steps necessary shall be employed to prevent the contamination of
milk handled through bulk farm pick up. This shall pertain to all phases of
this type of milk handling. The bulk farm tank and accessories shall be used
for no other purpose than the handling of milk and the operations incident
thereto.