Chapter ATCP 65

ATCP 65.24(16) (16) Exterior premises; cleanliness.

ATCP 65.24(16)(a) (a) The premises surrounding a dairy plant shall be well drained and shall be kept in an orderly condition. The premises shall be kept free of accumulated trash, garbage, excess vegetation, and other objects that may harbor vermin, be a source of airborne dust or dirt, or hold standing water. Driveways and parking lots shall be surfaced or maintained to minimize airborne dust and dirt.

ATCP 65.24(16)(b) (b) Every outdoor storage tank used for liquid food ingredients shall be located on a drained impermeable surface. All loading and unloading of liquid food ingredients from that storage tank shall be conducted above a drained impermeable surface.

ATCP 65.24(17) (17) Garbage and solid waste disposal.

ATCP 65.24(17)(a) (a) Garbage and solid waste shall be removed from the dairy plant premises as often as necessary to keep the premises in a clean and sanitary condition.

ATCP 65.24(17)(b) (b) Garbage and solid waste storage areas shall be constructed and maintained so that they are easily cleanable and do not attract or harbor insects, rodents, or other animals; do not hold standing water, and are not a source of airborne dust or dirt.

ATCP 65.24(17)(c) (c) Garbage and solid waste shall be held in durable, leak-proof, easily cleanable, and pest-resistant containers. Containers shall be covered with tight-fitting lids, and shall be cleaned when necessary to prevent unsanitary conditions. Waste containers receiving solid waste from packaging and bottle washing operations may be uncovered, if necessary, when those operations are in progress.

ATCP 65.24(17)(d) (d) No garbage or solid waste may be burned on the dairy plant premises, except in compliance with state and local regulations. No garbage or solid waste may be burned on the premises if the burning may contaminate dairy products.

ATCP 65.24(18) (18) Pest control. A dairy plant shall be free of any evidence of insect, rodent, or other pest infestation. A dairy plant operator shall take effective measures to prevent and, if necessary, eradicate pest infestations. No pesticide may be stored, handled, or used in a manner inconsistent with label directions, in a negligent manner, or in a manner that may contaminate dairy products.

ATCP 65.24 Note Note: Pesticides must be handled, stored, and used in compliance with ss. 94.67 to 94.71, Stats., and ch. ATCP 29.

ATCP 65.24(19) (19) Construction plans; notification; review. Before constructing, substantially reconstructing, or extensively altering a dairy plant, a dairy plant operator shall provide the division with complete plans and specifications for the construction, reconstruction, or alteration. Within 30 days after a dairy plant operator files plans with the division under this subsection, the division shall return its comments or objections, if any, in writing.

ATCP 65.24 History History: CR 14-073: cr. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16; correction in (8) (a), (d) 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register August 2016 No. 728.

ATCP 65.26 ATCP 65.26 Personnel; sanitation standards.

ATCP 65.26(1) (1) Cleanliness and sanitation; general.

ATCP 65.26(1)(a) (a) Within a dairy plant, access to processing areas shall be restricted to dairy plant employees and other authorized personnel.

ATCP 65.26(1)(b) (b) Persons who handle or process dairy products shall maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness, and shall observe good hygienic practices during all working periods.

ATCP 65.26(1)(c) (c) Persons who handle or process dairy products shall thoroughly wash their hands before beginning work and before returning to work after using toilet facilities, eating, smoking, or engaging in other activities that may contaminate their hands.

ATCP 65.26(1)(d) (d) A person with a discharging or infected lesion on a hand or arm may not handle or process unpackaged dairy products without appropriate sanitary protection. Appropriate sanitary protection shall include any of the following:

ATCP 65.26(1)(d)1. 1. An impermeable bandage on the lesion.

ATCP 65.26(1)(d)2. 2. Single-use sanitary gloves or, if the lesion is on the arm, a full sleeved garment with tight fitting cuffs.

ATCP 65.26(1)(e) (e) A person who handles or processes dairy products shall keep his or her fingernails clean and neatly trimmed and shall not wear fingernail polish unless he or she wears sanitary gloves at all times when working.

ATCP 65.26(1)(f) (f) No person exhibiting reportable symptoms of communicable disease, as defined in ch. ATCP 75 Appendix, 2-201.11 (A) (1), or who has received a reportable diagnosis of communicable disease as defined in ch. ATCP 75 Appendix, 2-201.11 (A) (2) may work in a dairy plant in any capacity that may contaminate dairy products.

ATCP 65.26(2) (2) Clothing and jewelry.

ATCP 65.26(2)(a) (a) Whenever any person is in a processing area or is engaged in handling unpackaged milk or dairy products, that person shall wear clean, washable outer garments and an effective hair restraint, including an effective hair restraint for any beard longer than 1/2 inch. Hair restraints may include hair nets, caps, and snoods, but do not include hairsprays, visors, or headbands.

ATCP 65.26(2)(b) (b) No person may wear any jewelry while working in a processing area or handling unpackaged dairy products. This paragraph does not apply to plain band wedding rings or medical alert necklaces worn under garments and secured by adhesive tape to the inside of undergarments.

ATCP 65.26(3) (3) Consumption of food and beverages, and use of tobacco. No person may consume food or beverages, or use tobacco in any processing area or in any area where dairy processing equipment, utensils, or packaging materials are cleaned or stored. Employees may not consume food or beverages or use tobacco except in designated areas that are separated from food storage or processing areas. This subsection does not prohibit a sanitary water fountain in a processing area, nor does it prohibit on-line quality control sampling and organoleptic evaluation according to written quality control procedures established by the dairy plant operator.

ATCP 65.26 History History: CR 14-073: cr. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16; correction in (1) (f) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register August 2016 No. 728; correction in (1) (f) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2017 No. 733.

ATCP 65.28 ATCP 65.28 Equipment and utensils.

ATCP 65.28(1) (1) Construction and maintenance.

ATCP 65.28(1)(a) (a) Equipment and utensils, including C-I-P systems, shall be of sanitary design and construction. Equipment and utensils, including C-I-P systems installed after the effective date of this chapter, shall comply with applicable “3-A Sanitary Standards” and “3-A Accepted Practices” listed in ch. ATCP 65 Appendix A.

ATCP 65.28 Note Note: The “3-A Sanitary Standards” and ”3-A Accepted Practices” listed in Appendix A are published by 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., 1451 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Suite 210, McLean, VA 22101-3850, telephone [phone], website www.3-a.org. Copies are on file with the division and the legislative reference bureau and may be obtained from the ”3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. Online Store” at http://www.techstreet.com.

ATCP 65.28(1)(b) (b) Equipment and utensils shall be readily accessible for cleaning and inspection and shall be designed and constructed so that they can be easily cleaned. Equipment and utensils shall be kept clean and in good repair.

ATCP 65.28(1)(c) (c) Tanks, vats, separators, and other containers used to store or process dairy products shall be designed or equipped with appropriate devices to prevent surface condensation and drainage from entering the container.

ATCP 65.28(1)(d) (d) Pipeline systems used to convey dairy products shall contain no dead ends in which dairy products may collect. Pipelines and other equipment shall be designed and constructed to prevent cross-contamination between pasteurized dairy products, unpasteurized dairy products, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions.

ATCP 65.28(1)(e) (e) If it is necessary to disassemble any equipment or utensil to inspect a product contact surface, all tools needed for the disassembly shall be readily available at the dairy plant.

ATCP 65.28(1)(f) (f) Water hoses used to wash dairy products or add ingredient water to dairy products shall be constructed of approved food grade materials and shall be used and stored in a sanitary manner.

ATCP 65.28(1)(g) (g) A dairy plant operator may use sanitary flexible pipelines to transfer partially processed products in the intermediate stages of production or to load and unload bulk loads of milk from transport vehicles, if all the following apply:

ATCP 65.28(1)(g)1. 1. The use of rigid pipelines for that purpose in a sanitary manner is not possible due to the location of walls, floors, ceiling or other equipment.

ATCP 65.28(1)(g)2. 2. The dairy plant operator properly cleans and sanitizes the flexible pipeline after completing the transfer of product, or at least once during each day of use.

ATCP 65.28(1)(g)3. 3. The operator uses only a length of flexible pipeline necessary to conduct the transfer operation.

ATCP 65.28(2) (2) Product contact surfaces.

ATCP 65.28(2)(a) (a) Product contact surfaces of equipment and utensils shall be made of materials that are smooth, impervious, nontoxic, noncorrosive, nonabsorbent, and durable under foreseeable use conditions. A product contact surface shall be constructed of one or more of the following materials unless the division specifically authorizes another material in writing:

ATCP 65.28(2)(a)1. 1. Stainless steel of the American Iron and Steel Institute 300 series, or an equally corrosion resistant metal.

ATCP 65.28(2)(a)2. 2. Heat resistant glass.

ATCP 65.28(2)(a)3. 3. Plastic, rubber, or rubber-like materials that are fat resistant and insoluble; that are resistant to scratching, scoring, decomposition, crazing, chipping, and distortion under normal use conditions; that do not impart chemicals, flavor, or odor to milk; and that maintain their original properties under conditions of repeated use.

ATCP 65.28(2)(b) (b) Product contact surfaces shall be easily cleanable and shall be free of breaks, open seams, cracks, or similar defects. Product contact surfaces shall not impart any odor, color, taste, or adulterating substance to food. Product contact surfaces, other than product contact surfaces of approved C-I-P systems, shall be readily accessible for manual cleaning. Joints and fittings shall be of sanitary design and construction.

ATCP 65.28(3) (3) Location and installation of dairy processing equipment.

ATCP 65.28(3)(a) (a) Dairy processing equipment shall be located and installed to prevent overcrowding and to prevent contamination of dairy products or product contact surfaces by splash, condensation, or manual contact.

ATCP 65.28(3)(b) (b) Dairy processing equipment that cannot be easily moved shall be installed in a manner that prevents liquid or debris from accumulating under or around the equipment.

ATCP 65.28(3)(c) (c) Dairy processing equipment shall be installed so that there is adequate clearance on all sides for cleaning and maintenance. This does not apply to that portion of a tank or container that is designed to protrude into or through a wall or the ceiling of a dairy plant.

ATCP 65.28(4) (4) Bulk storage tanks; venting. A tank used for the bulk storage of milk, whey, or liquid food products shall be equipped with an air filter to prevent contamination of tank contents, or shall be vented only to one of the following:

ATCP 65.28(4)(a) (a) A processing area.

ATCP 65.28(4)(b) (b) A tank gallery room that complies with processing area sanitation standards under this chapter.

ATCP 65.28(5) (5) Measuring devices and controls.

ATCP 65.28(5)(a) (a) Every storage tank, freezer, and cold storage compartment used to hold milk or dairy products shall be equipped with a thermometer or other device that accurately indicates the temperature in the storage tank, freezer, or compartment.

ATCP 65.28(5)(b) (b) Each of the following bulk storage tanks shall be equipped with a 7-day temperature recording device that shows the temperature of dairy products stored in that bulk storage tank:

ATCP 65.28(5)(b)1. 1. Every bulk storage tank used to store grade A milk or grade A dairy products for longer than 24 hours.

ATCP 65.28(5)(b)2. 2. A silo tank installed after December 1, 1994.

ATCP 65.28(5)(c) (c) Instruments and controls used for measuring, regulating, and recording temperature, pH, acidity, water activity, or other conditions that control or prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms in milk or dairy products shall be accurate, fully functional, and adequate for their intended use.

ATCP 65.28(6) (6) Lubrication. Equipment shall be designed and constructed so that gear and bearing lubricants do not come in contact with milk or dairy products, ingredients, or product contact surfaces. Food grade lubricants shall be used if there is any chance that lubricants may come in contact with milk or dairy products, ingredients or product contact surfaces.

ATCP 65.28(7) (7) Cleaning and sanitizing equipment and utensils.

ATCP 65.28(7)(a) (a) A dairy plant operator shall clean and sanitize product contact surfaces of equipment and utensils to keep them at all times in sanitary condition. Sanitizing methods shall comply with s. ATCP 65.34.

ATCP 65.28(7)(b) (b) Except as provided in pars. (c) to (f), a dairy plant operator shall at a minimum clean all product contact surfaces of equipment and utensils after each day’s use, sanitize those surfaces before each day’s use, and clean and sanitize those surfaces before any change in use that may cross-contaminate dairy products with major food allergens, as defined in s. ATCP 70.02 (29), or other contaminants.

ATCP 65.28(7)(c) (c) A dairy plant operator shall clean and sanitize tanks used to store liquid dairy products whenever the dairy plant operator empties those tanks. Tanks used to store raw milk or grade A dairy products shall be emptied at least once every 72 hours.

ATCP 65.28(7)(d) (d) A dairy plant operator shall clean evaporators at the end of a continuous operation, not to exceed 44 hours.

ATCP 65.28(7)(e) (e) Paragraph (b) does not apply to any of the following equipment, provided that the dairy plant operator cleans and sanitizes the equipment according to manufacturer specifications or a cleaning and sanitizing process approved under par. (f), and complying with par. (a):

ATCP 65.28(7)(e)1. 1. Drying equipment.

ATCP 65.28(7)(e)2. 2. Cloth collector systems.

ATCP 65.28(7)(e)3. 3. Dry product packaging equipment and storage containers.

ATCP 65.28(7)(e)4. 4. Equipment used in brining, aging, curing, and dry product blending processes.

ATCP 65.28(7)(e)5. 5. Reverse osmosis equipment that utilizes a permeate stream from a previously pasteurized product that has passed through a nanofiltration system achieving an efficiency of not more than 1,000 daltons.

ATCP 65.28(7)(e)6. 6. Food contact surfaces of equipment used only to process foods or food ingredients with water activity not exceeding 0.85, or foods that are not potentially hazardous foods.

ATCP 65.28(7)(e)7. 7. Food contact surfaces located downstream from the sterilization step in an aseptic processing and packaging system, provided that system sterility is maintained. If system sterility is not maintained, the surfaces shall be cleaned, sanitized, and sterilized before processing.

ATCP 65.28(7)(f) (f) The division may authorize an alternative cleaning and sanitizing schedule for continuously-operated equipment, in lieu of the schedule under par. (b), based on a proposal under par. (g). The division’s authorization of a proposal for cleaning and sanitizing of equipment in contact with grade A dairy products is contingent upon consultation with, and acceptance of the proposal by, the US food and drug administration, and shall be valid for 5 years. The division’s authorization may be renewed after a review requested in writing by the dairy plant operator. A dairy plant operator shall adhere to the practices described in an approved proposal. A dairy plant operator may not alter practices described in an approved proposal without division approval. Division approval of a proposed changes for cleaning and sanitizing of equipment in contact with grade A dairy products is contingent upon consultation with, and acceptance of the changes by, the US food and drug administration, and shall be valid for 5 years.

ATCP 65.28(7)(g) (g) A dairy plant operator’s proposal, under par. (f), shall include all of the following:

ATCP 65.28(7)(g)1. 1. A complete description of the continuously-operated equipment covered by the proposal, including relevant design and sanitation features.

ATCP 65.28(7)(g)2. 2. A complete description of the processing, handling, or storage operations for which the continuously-operated equipment is used. The description shall identify the types of dairy products involved, and the type and duration of continuous operations conducted.

ATCP 65.28(7)(g)3. 3. A complete description of the cleaning and sanitizing procedure proposed by the dairy plant operator. The description shall include cleaning and sanitizing frequency, cleaning and sanitizing methods and materials, and other relevant process parameters such as time, temperature, and concentration. The description shall include relevant process diagrams and specifications.

ATCP 65.28(7)(g)4. 4. A certification, by the dairy plant operator, that the proposed cleaning and sanitizing procedure complies with par. (a). The certification shall be based on a thorough hazard analysis and safety assessment by qualified personnel.

ATCP 65.28(7)(h) (h) A dairy plant operator shall keep records to document, on an ongoing basis, the operator’s compliance with this subsection.

ATCP 65.28(8) (8) Storing clean equipment and utensils. Clean equipment and utensils, unless stored in an approved sanitizing solution, shall be stored so that they drain dry. Utensils and equipment components disassembled for cleaning shall be stored above the floor in metal racks or other storage facilities which allow drainage. Clean equipment and utensils shall be protected from contamination prior to use.

ATCP 65.28(9) (9) Single-service utensils. Single-service utensils shall be stored in the original containers in which they were received, or in other closed containers that will protect them from contamination until they are used. Single-service utensils shall not be reused.

ATCP 65.28(10) (10) Cleaning compounds, detergents, and sanitizers; storage and labeling. Cleaning compounds, detergents, and sanitizers used in a dairy plant shall be clearly labeled. When they are not being used, they shall be stored in designated areas and in an appropriate manner so that they do not contaminate dairy products, ingredients, equipment, or utensils.

ATCP 65.28 History History: CR 14-073: cr. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16; correction in (7) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register August 2016 No. 728; correction in (7) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2020 No. 769.

ATCP 65.30 ATCP 65.30 C-I-P systems.

ATCP 65.30(1) (1) Construction and maintenance; general. C-I-P systems shall be designed, constructed, installed, and maintained in compliance with s. ATCP 65.28.

ATCP 65.30(2) (2) Cleaning and sanitizing C-I-P systems.

ATCP 65.30(2)(a) (a) A dairy plant operator shall clean and sanitize all C-I-P systems in compliance with s. ATCP 65.28 (7). Surfaces that cannot be cleaned and sanitized by C-I-P procedures shall be cleaned and sanitized manually or by a clean-out-of-place mechanical process.

ATCP 65.30(2)(b) (b) A dairy plant operator shall keep records on the cleaning and sanitizing of all C-I-P systems. The records shall identify every C-I-P system that has been cleaned and sanitized, the date and time when each C-I-P system was cleaned and sanitized, the temperature of the cleaning and sanitizing solutions, and the length of time for which the C-I-P system was exposed to the cleaning and sanitizing solutions. Records shall be made at the time the cleaning and sanitizing process is completed. Records shall be signed or initialed by a responsible person at the dairy plant. The division shall review the records as part of every routine inspection of the dairy plant.