Chapter ATCP 65

ATCP 65.04(5)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (c), the department may issue a temporary dairy plant license to an applicant, under sub. (2), pending the department’s final action on that person’s license application. A temporary license may be issued for a period of not more than 40 days. If the department denies a license application before the applicant’s temporary license expires, the temporary license is automatically terminated when the applicant receives written notice of the denial.

ATCP 65.04(5)(b) (b) The holder of a temporary license, under par. (a), acquires no rights beyond those conferred by the temporary license. The holder of a temporary license may not purchase milk or fluid milk products from milk producers or their agents, but may purchase milk or fluid milk products from other sources.

ATCP 65.04(5)(c) (c) The department may not issue a temporary license, under par. (a), in response to a license renewal application by the holder of an existing license.

ATCP 65.04(6) (6) Pre-license inspection.

ATCP 65.04(6)(a) (a) The division may inspect a dairy plant, as the department deems necessary, before issuing a license for that dairy plant.

ATCP 65.04(6)(b) (b) The department may not issue a dairy plant license, under sub. (1), or a temporary license, under sub. (5), for a dairy plant that is not currently licensed until the division inspects that dairy plant for compliance with this chapter.

ATCP 65.04 Note Note: The department is not required to inspect a currently licensed dairy plant before renewing the license of the current operator, or before issuing a license to a new operator of that dairy plant.

ATCP 65.04(7) (7) Added operations. No dairy plant operator may add a new category of operations at a licensed dairy plant during the time period for which the license was issued unless the operator notifies the division and obtains written authorization for the new category of operations. A dairy plant operator adding the processing of low-acid or acidified foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers, seafood or juice, shall comply with the applicable requirements in ch. ATCP 70. In this subsection, “new category of operations” includes the manufacture or processing of any of the following that was not identified in the operator’s most recent license application under sub. (2):

ATCP 65.04(7)(a) (a) Fluid milk products.

ATCP 65.04(7)(b) (b) Cheese and cheese products.

ATCP 65.04(7)(c) (c) Ice cream or frozen desserts.

ATCP 65.04(7)(d) (d) Dairy products dried at the dairy plant.

ATCP 65.04(7)(e) (e) Multi-ingredient dried dairy products blended at the dairy plant.

ATCP 65.04(8) (8) Annual dairy plant license fees.

ATCP 65.04(8)(a) (a) Fees based on receipts or production. An applicant for a dairy plant license shall pay an annual license fee. The license fees in this subsection are not refundable. Except as provided under par. (b), license fees are based on the dairy plant’s milk receipts or production during the previous calendar year, regardless of who operated that dairy plant in the previous calendar year.

ATCP 65.04(8)(b) (b) Fees for plants with no milk receipts or production during previous year. If a dairy plant had no milk receipts or production during the previous calendar year, license fees shall be based on projected milk receipts or production during the license year for which application is made. At the end of that license year, the license holder shall report the actual milk receipts or production during the license year, and the department shall determine the appropriate fee, under par. (a), based on actual receipts or production. If the fee based on actual receipts or production differs from the fee based on projected receipts or production, the license holder shall pay the balance due or receive a credit from the department on the next year’s license fee.

ATCP 65.04(8)(c) (c) License fee amounts. The license fee, under par. (a), is $120 plus whichever of the following applies:

ATCP 65.04(8)(c)1. 1. For a grade A processing plant, a supplementary license fee of $955 if the plant received more than 2,000,000 pounds of milk from milk producers, or a supplementary license fee of $735 if the plant received 2,000,000 pounds or less of milk from producers.

ATCP 65.04(8)(c)2. 2. For a grade B processing plant that manufactured or processed more than 1,000,000 pounds of dairy products or more than 200,000 gallons of frozen dairy products, a supplementary license fee of $400.

ATCP 65.04(8)(c)3. 3. For a grade A receiving station, a supplementary license fee of $370.

ATCP 65.04(9) (9) Surcharge and past fees for operating without license.

ATCP 65.04(9)(a) (a) An applicant for a dairy plant license shall pay a license fee surcharge if the department determines that, within 365 days before submitting the license application, the applicant operated the dairy plant without a license in violation of sub. (1). The amount of the surcharge is $100, or $500 if the dairy plant operator procured milk or fluid milk products from milk producers or their agents.

ATCP 65.04(9)(b) (b) In addition to paying the license fee surcharge under par. (a), an applicant who violated sub. (1) shall pay all fees, set forth in a statement from the department, that are due for the license year in which the applicant violated sub. (1).

ATCP 65.04(9)(c) (c) Payment of the license fee surcharge and past fees, under pars. (a) and (b), does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability that results from the unlicensed operation of a dairy plant, but does not constitute evidence of any violation of law.

ATCP 65.04(10) (10) Milk procurement fee; monthly payment.

ATCP 65.04(10)(a) (a) Monthly fee required. On or before the 25th day of each month, a dairy plant operator, including a milk contractor that submits a milk producer license application on behalf of a milk producer and thereby certifies that the milk producer’s dairy farm and milking operations comply with applicable requirements under this chapter, shall pay a milk procurement fee in the amount specified under par. (b). The monthly fee shall be based on the amount of milk that was procured by the dairy plant or milk contractor, directly from milk producers in the month preceding the month when the fee payment is due, regardless of who procured the milk during that preceding month.

ATCP 65.04(10)(b) (b) Fee amounts. Milk procurement fees, required under par. (a), are as follows:

ATCP 65.04(10)(b)1. 1. For each 100 pounds of grade A milk procured from milk producers, 1.048 cent.

ATCP 65.04(10)(b)2. 2. For each 100 pounds of grade B milk procured from milk producers, 0.2 cent.

ATCP 65.04(10)(c) (c) Out-of-state milk shipments. A milk producer who ships milk to an out-of-state dairy plant shall pay a monthly milk procurement fee on that milk, as required under par. (a), in the amount specified under par. (b), unless the operator of that out-of-state dairy plant voluntarily pays that fee for the milk producer.

ATCP 65.04(11) (11) Reinspection fees.

ATCP 65.04(11)(a) (a) Dairy plant to pay reinspection fee for milk producer. A dairy plant operator, including a milk contractor that submits a milk producer license application on behalf of a milk producer and thereby certifies that the milk producer’s dairy farm and milking operations comply with applicable requirements under this chapter, shall pay the dairy farm reinspection fee under this section for a milk producer if, at the time of a reinspection, the producer was assigned to that operator for licensing purposes under s. ATCP 65.02. The department may issue a statement of reinspection fees payable by a dairy plant operator and may demand payment from the dairy plant operator when it issues an application form for the renewal of the dairy plant operator’s license under s. 97.20, Stats.

ATCP 65.04(11)(b) (b) Fee amounts. The reinspection fee required, under par. (a), includes, for each reinspection, a basic reinspection fee of $60 plus a supplementary reinspection fee as follows:

ATCP 65.04(11)(b)1. 1. For a grade A processing plant, a supplementary reinspection fee of $240 if the plant received more than 2,000,000 pounds of milk from milk producers during the previous calendar year, or a supplementary reinspection fee of $190 if the plant received 2,000,000 pounds or less of milk from milk producers during the previous calendar year.

ATCP 65.04(11)(b)2. 2. For a grade B processing plant, a supplementary reinspection fee of $210.

ATCP 65.04(11)(b)3. 3. For a grade A receiving station, a supplementary reinspection fee of $90.

ATCP 65.04(12) (12) Dairy product grading fee.

ATCP 65.04(12)(a) (a) A person applying for a license to produce gradable butter, for which grading is required under s. 97.176, Stats., or cheese at a grade B dairy plant shall pay an annual grading fee under s. 97.177, Stats.

ATCP 65.04(12)(b) (b) The grading fee, under par. (a), is 1.35 cents per 100 pounds of butter and cheese for which grading is required under s. 97.176 or 97.177, Stats., and that is produced at the dairy plant by any operator during the previous calendar year. If the dairy plant was not in operation during the previous calendar year, the license applicant shall pay a grading fee based on estimated production for the calendar year in which the application is made. At the end of the license year, the license holder shall report the actual calendar year production, and the department shall re-calculate the grading fee based on that actual production. If the grading fee based on actual production differs from the fee based on estimated production, the license holder shall pay the balance due or receive a credit from the department on the next year’s grading fee.

ATCP 65.04(12)(c) (c) For purposes of this subsection, ungraded cheese in 55 gallon metal or fiber barrels shall not be graded.

ATCP 65.04(13) (13) Dairy trade practices fee; monthly payments. A dairy plant operator shall pay a monthly dairy trade practice fee if required under s. 100.201 (6), Stats.

ATCP 65.04 Note Note: A dairy plant operator is required to pay a monthly dairy trade practice fee under s. 100.201 (6), Stats., if the operator sells milk, fluid milk products, ice cream, or other frozen desserts at wholesale or retail, in consumer package form, to persons in this state.

ATCP 65.04(14) (14) Grade A permit required.

ATCP 65.04(14)(a) (a) Except as provided under sub. (15), no person operating a dairy plant at which milk or fluid milk products are received, transferred, or processed may sell or distribute that milk or those fluid milk products as grade A milk or grade A milk products unless that person holds a valid grade A dairy plant permit issued by the department for that dairy plant. If a grade A receiving station or transfer station is operated at the same location as a grade B processing plant, a grade A permit is required for that receiving station or transfer station.

ATCP 65.04(14)(b) (b) A grade A dairy plant permit expires on April 30 annually and is not transferable between persons or locations. A grade A dairy plant permit may be issued in the form of an endorsement on a dairy plant license under sub. (1).

ATCP 65.04(15) (15) Grade A permit exemptions. A grade A permit is not required, under sub. (14), for any of the following:

ATCP 65.04(15)(a) (a) A grade A receiving station or transfer station operated at the same location, and by the same person, as a grade A processing plant covered by a permit under sub. (14).

ATCP 65.04(15)(b) (b) A grade A transfer station operated at the same location, and by the same person, as a grade A receiving station covered by a permit under sub. (14).

ATCP 65.04(16) (16) Grade A permit application. An application for a grade A dairy plant permit shall be made on a form provided by the department. A grade A permit application may be made in conjunction with a dairy plant license application under sub. (2).

ATCP 65.04(17) (17) Surcharge for operating without a grade A permit. An applicant for a grade A dairy plant permit shall pay a permit surcharge of $100 if the department determines that, within 365 days before submitting the permit application, the applicant operated the dairy plant as a grade A dairy plant without a grade A permit in violation of sub. (14). Payment of the surcharge does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability that results from the operation of a grade A dairy plant without a grade A permit, but does not constitute evidence of any violation of law.

ATCP 65.04(18) (18) Action on grade A permit application; deadline. The department shall grant or deny a permit application, under sub. (16), within 40 days after the department receives a complete application or before the expiration of any temporary permit issued under sub. (19), whichever occurs later.

ATCP 65.04(19) (19) Temporary grade A permit. The department may issue a temporary grade A permit to an applicant, under sub. (16), pending final action on that person’s permit application. A temporary permit may be issued for a period of not more than 40 days and may not exceed the term of the dairy plant license or temporary license. If the department denies a permit application before the term of the temporary permit expires, the temporary permit is automatically terminated when the applicant receives notice of the denial. The department may not issue a temporary permit in response to a permit renewal application by the holder of an existing permit.

ATCP 65.04(20) (20) Prerequisites for grade A permit. The department may not issue or renew a grade A dairy plant permit, or issue a temporary permit under sub. (19), unless all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 65.04(20)(a) (a) The permit applicant holds a dairy plant license under this section or the department issues the permit and license simultaneously. The department may issue a temporary grade A permit, under sub. (19), to an applicant holding a temporary dairy plant license under sub. (5) or may issue the temporary permit and temporary license simultaneously.

ATCP 65.04(20)(b) (b) The division inspects the dairy plant if the dairy plant is not currently covered by a grade A dairy plant permit.

ATCP 65.04(20)(c) (c) The applicant pays any surcharge, set forth in a statement from the department, which is due and payable by the applicant under sub. (9). The department shall refund a surcharge paid under protest if the department determines that the surcharge was not due and payable under sub. (9).

ATCP 65.04(21) (21) Grade A standards. A grade A dairy plant shall comply with standards applicable to the receipt, testing, transfer, processing, and distribution of grade A milk and grade A milk products under this chapter. A grade A dairy plant may not receive, transfer, or process grade B milk unless the receipt, transfer, or processing is authorized by the division in writing.

ATCP 65.04 History History: CR 14-073: cr. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16; correction in (1) (a), (b) (intro.), 6., (2) (intro.), (7) (intro.), (9) (a), (b), (16), (20) (a) Register August 2016 No. 728.

subch. II of ch. ATCP 65 Subchapter II — Dairy Farms

ATCP 65.06 ATCP 65.06 Milking barn or parlor. All milking operations on a dairy farm shall be conducted in a milking barn or parlor, which shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements:

ATCP 65.06(1) (1) Floors and gutters; construction. Except as authorized by the division in writing, floors, gutters, and gutter covers in milking barns and parlors shall comply with all of the following requirements:

ATCP 65.06(1)(a) (a) They shall be constructed of concrete or other materials that are equally impervious and cleanable.

ATCP 65.06(1)(b) (b) They shall be constructed and maintained so they can be kept clean.

ATCP 65.06(1)(c) (c) They shall be sloped to drain sufficiently to prevent pooling of liquids and shall be free of excessive breaks or worn areas that may allow pooling of liquid wastes. Floors and gutters constructed after July 1, 1989, shall have a slope of at least one inch per 10 feet.

ATCP 65.06(2) (2) Manure handling systems. Gravity flow manure handling systems and liquid manure storage under milking barns shall comply with applicable standards contained in PMO Appendix C, “Dairy Farm Construction Standards and Milk Production.”

ATCP 65.06 Note Note: Copies of the PMO, including Appendix C, are on file with the division and the legislative reference bureau. Copies are available online at www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/milk.

ATCP 65.06(3) (3) Walls and ceilings; construction. Walls and ceilings in milking barns and parlors shall be constructed and maintained so that they can be kept clean. Walls and ceilings shall be painted, whitewashed or otherwise finished so that they are light colored and easy to clean. Ceilings shall be constructed and maintained to prevent dust and chaff from entering the milking barn or parlor from above. The wall finish and wall cleaning requirements under this subsection do not apply to seasonal milking parlors constructed without walls.

ATCP 65.06(4) (4) Lighting. Natural or artificial lighting, or both, shall be provided in milking barns and parlors to ensure illumination that allows evaluation of teat and milking equipment cleanliness for daytime and nighttime milking operations. Except where additional lighting is required for milking parlors under sub. (10), there shall be at least 10 foot-candles of illumination in all working areas where milking operations are being performed.

ATCP 65.06(5) (5) Ventilation. Ventilation in milking barns and parlors shall be adequate to prevent visible condensation on walls and ceilings, and to prevent excessive odors.

ATCP 65.06(6) (6) Animals excluded. No swine, fowl, or non-milking livestock may be housed in, or allowed to enter a milking barn or parlor. Milking areas shall be kept free of excrement from non-milking livestock.

ATCP 65.06(7) (7) Maintenance and cleanliness; general. The interior of every milking barn or parlor, and all areas used in connection with milking operations, shall be kept clean and in a good state of repair. Floors, gutters, walls, ceilings, animal confinement facilities, pipelines, and equipment shall be kept free of accumulated litter and filth. Bedding material shall be clean and dry. Milk stools, surcingles, and anti-kickers shall be kept clean, and shall be stored above the floor when not in use. Manure shall be removed from milking barns daily, and after every milking in a milking parlor.

ATCP 65.06(8) (8) Feed storage and handling. Dust-tight covered containers or separate storage facilities shall be used to store ground, chopped, or concentrated feed. Feed may be stored in the milking portion of the barn only in a manner that does not increase the dust content of the air, attract flies, or interfere with the cleaning of the floor. Open feed dollies or carts may be used for distributing feed, but not for storing feed in the milking barn.

ATCP 65.06(9) (9) Overcrowding prohibited. Areas used for milking operations shall not be overcrowded.

ATCP 65.06 Note Note: Evidence of overcrowded conditions may include inadequate ventilation, excessive odors, livestock in walks or feed alleys, or non-milking livestock tied between milking animals in a milking line.

ATCP 65.06(10) (10) Milking parlor; additional requirements.

ATCP 65.06(10)(a) (a) Cleaning and storage of C-I-P milking equipment. C-I-P milking equipment may be cleaned, sanitized, and stored in a milking parlor if all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 65.06(10)(a)1. 1. There are at least 30 foot-candles of illumination in all areas of the milking parlor where C-I-P milking equipment is cleaned, sanitized, or stored.

ATCP 65.06(10)(a)2. 2. Doorways to and from the milking parlor are provided with tight-fitting solid doors that are kept closed when the doorways are not in use.

ATCP 65.06(10)(a)3. 3. Openings to the milking parlor are protected against entry by insects, rodents and other pests.

ATCP 65.06(10)(a)4. 4. No animals are housed in the milking parlor at any time.

ATCP 65.06(10)(a)5. 5. Liquid wastes from milking parlor operations are drained and removed in a sanitary manner, so that there are no liquid waste accumulations in the milking parlor.

ATCP 65.06(10)(a)6. 6. C-I-P milking equipment, if cleaned, sanitized, or stored in the milking parlor, is designed, installed, handled, and stored so that milk contact surfaces are protected from contamination at all times. Cleaning, handling, and storage shall comply with applicable requirements under s. ATCP 65.14.

ATCP 65.06(10)(b) (b) Manual cleaning of milk contact surfaces prohibited in milking parlor. If manual cleaning of milk contact surfaces is necessary, the milk contact surfaces shall be manually cleaned in the milkhouse. Milk contact surfaces may not be manually cleaned in a milking parlor.

ATCP 65.06(10)(c) (c) Pre-milking stalls; hot water supply. If milking animals are hosed clean in a milking parlor pre-milking stall before milking, rather than being manually cleaned at the milking stanchions, hot water under pressure shall be supplied to the pre-milking stall and used for cleaning purposes. There shall be an adequate supply of hot water so that all milking animals processed through the pre-milking stall can be fully cleaned without depleting the availability of hot water for other milking parlor or milkhouse operations.

ATCP 65.06(11) (11) Drug storage. No drug or medicinal item, or drug administering device such as a bolus wand or syringe, may be kept in a milkhouse unless it is intended or prescribed for use on dairy animals. If drugs or medicinal items are kept in a milkhouse, they shall be stored in an enclosed cabinet, separate from all other articles stored in the milkhouse. Drugs and medicinal items shall be clearly labeled to indicate their identity and intended use, and prescription drugs shall be labeled as provided under s. ATCP 65.20 (5). Drugs and medicinal items intended solely for treatment of non-lactating milking animals shall be kept separate from those used for treatment of lactating milking animals.

ATCP 65.06 History History: CR 14-073: cr. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16.

ATCP 65.08 ATCP 65.08 Milkhouse.

ATCP 65.08(1) (1) Requirement. Every dairy farm shall have a milkhouse. Except as provided in s. ATCP 65.16 (5), a milk producer shall cool and store milk in the milkhouse. A milkhouse shall be separate from a milking barn or parlor, but may share common walls with a milking barn or parlor. All milking equipment and utensils shall be cleaned, sanitized and stored in the milkhouse, except for C-I-P milk pipelines that are mechanically cleaned in place in a milking barn or parlor, or C-I-P milking equipment that is mechanically cleaned and stored in a milking parlor under s. ATCP 65.06 (10) (a).

ATCP 65.08(2) (2) Access to Milkhouse. Every access driveway and every exterior access door to the milkhouse shall be located in such a manner that no vehicle or a person traveling to the milkhouse must pass through an animal walkway, holding area, or yard where excessive animal waste may accumulate on the ground near these access areas.