1   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Code of  Good  Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PHILIPPINE NAT IONAL  
STANDARD  PNS/BAFS  
ICS  
 
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES STANDARDS  
BPI Compound Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines  
Phone (632) 920 -6131; (632) 455 -2856; (632) 467 -9039; Telefax (632) 455 -2858  
E-mail: bafpsda@ yahoo.com.ph  
Website: www.bafps.da.gov.ph  
 
Draft copy only  DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 
 2 Foreword  
 
This Philip pine National Standard (PNS)  Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk is based on 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products 
(CAC/RCP 57 -2004)  with some modifications to suit the l ocal produ ction practices, and 
was developed by a  Technical Working Group (TWG) organized by the Bureau of 
Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) through a Department of Agriculture (DA) 
Special Or der No. 741, Series of 2016.  
 
The TWG is composed of representatives coming from government agencies such as the 
National Dairy Authority and the Philippine Carabao Center, academic institutions such 
as the  Central Luzon State University and the  University  of the Philippines - Los Ba ños, 
and the private sector represented by the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines , with 
BAFS as Secretariat.  
 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 
 3 Table of Contents  
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  4 
2 Objectives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  4 
3 Definition of Terms  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  4 
4 Primary Production  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  5 
5 Hygienic milking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  12 
6 Suitability of the milk  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  15 
7 Milk Storage  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 15 
8 Collection, transport and delivery of milk ................................ ................................ .....................  17 
9 Documentation and record keeping  ................................ ................................ ..............................  19 
REFERENCES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......  20 
 
  DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 4 1 Scope  1 
This Code applies to the pr imary production and post -harvest handling of milk from cattle, 2 
buffalo and goat intended for further processing.   3 
 2 Objectives  4 
The purpose of this Code is to provide guidance for the hygienic production, collection, 5 
and handling of milk, to ensure that t he milk is safe and suitable for further processing.  6 
3 Definition of Terms  7 
For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply:  8 
3.1  9 
animal holding area  10 
any area where animals are kept before milking   11 
 12 
3.2  13 
avoid  14 
to keep away from, to the ex tent reasonably practicable; in this Code, the term will be used 15 
to mean, in theory, to have no contamination or to constrain a particular practice.  16 
 17 
3.3  18 
backyard  19 
small hold farm  20 
refers to farms where the number of milking animals per farmer or per herd u sually does 21 
not exceed a) 5 for cattle and buffalo and b) 10 for goats, milking machines are not 22 
generally used, milk is not used at the producer’s level and/or the milk is transported in 23 
milk cans. The terms may be used interchangeably.  24 
 25 
3.4  26 
contaminant  27 
any biological or chemical agent, foreign matter, or other substances not intentionally 28 
added to food which may compromise food safety or suitability  29 
 30 
3.5  31 
control measure  32 
any action and activity that can be used to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazar d or 33 
reduce it to an acceptable level.  34 
 35 
3.6  36 
foremilk  37 
the first three squirts of milk  38 
 39 
3.7  40 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 5 intended use  41 
is the purpose for which the product is specifically stated or could reasonably be 42 
presumed to be intended having regard to its nature, packaging, pre sentation and 43 
identification  44 
 45 
3.8  46 
milk 47 
is the normal mammary secretion of milking animals obtained from one or more milkings 48 
without either addition to it or extraction from it, intended for consumption as liquid milk 49 
or for further processing.  50 
 51 
3.9  52 
milk contact surfaces  53 
all items, including equipment and utensils, used during milking that come into contact 54 
with milk e.g. plunger, strainer, etc.  55 
 56 
3.10  57 
minimize  58 
to reduce the likelihood of occurrence or the consequence of an unavoidable situation 59 
such as m icrobiological growth . 60 
 61 
3.11  62 
shelf life  63 
the period during which the product maintains its microbiological safety and suitability at 64 
a specified storage temperature and, where appropriate, specified storage and handling 65 
conditions . 66 
 67 
3.12  68 
suitability  69 
assur ance that milk is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended use; to 70 
be found safe, wholesome and sound as it relates to hygiene . 71 
 72 
4 Primary Production  73 
a. Contamination of milk from animal and environmental sources during primary 74 
production sh ould be minimized.  75 
 76 
b. Appropriate animal husbandry practices should be respected and care should be 77 
taken to assure that proper health of the milking animals is maintained.  78 
 79 
c. Measures should be implemented at the primary production level to reduce the initia l 80 
load of pathogenic micro -organisms and other micro -organisms affecting safety and 81 
suitability to the extent possible to provide for a greater margin of safety and/or to 82 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 6 prepare the milk in a way that permits the application of microbiological control 83 
mea sures.  84 
 85 
d. The degree to which on -farm practices control the likelihood of occurrence of food 86 
safety hazards in milk will have an impact on the nature of controls needed during the 87 
subsequent processing of milk.  88 
 89 
4.1 Environmental management, hygiene and sani tation  90 
4.1.1 Water  91 
a. Water and other environmental factors should be managed in a way that minimizes 92 
the potential for the transmission, directly or indirectly, of hazards into the milk.  93 
 94 
b. There should be an appropriate and adequate supply of water with a qua lity suitable 95 
for its intended purpose , and it should not contribute to the introduction of hazards in 96 
milk.  97 
 98 
c. Where water is used for the cleaning of the udder and for cleaning milking equipment 99 
and milk storage equipment, it should be of such quality that  it does not adversely 100 
affect the safety and suitability of the milk.  101 
 102 
d. Precautions should be adopted to ensure that milking animals do not consume or 103 
have access to contaminated water or other environmental contaminants likely to 104 
cause diseases transmissib le to humans or contaminate milk . 105 
 106 
4.1.2 Farm areas and premises  107 
Areas and premises used for milk production should be situated, maintained and, to the 108 
extent practicable, used in a manner that minimizes the introduction of hazards into milk.  109 
 110 
4.1.2.1 Ani mal holding areas  111 
a. Animal holding areas should be kept clean and maintained in a manner that 112 
minimizes the risk of animal infection or contamination of milk. The occurrence of the 113 
following should be prevented:  114 
 Accumulations of manure, mud, or other object ionable materials, and  115 
 Presence of other species that would adversely affect the safety of milk.  116 
 117 
b. Animal holding areas should be such that animals with contagious diseases can be 118 
separated to prevent the transmission of diseases to healthy animals.  119 
 120 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 7 c. Litter  and stabling area should be maintained in a manner that minimizes the risk of 121 
teat injuries and udder diseases.  122 
 123 
4.1.2.2  Milking areas and related facilities  124 
a. There should be adequate separation between milking areas and any premises where 125 
animals are hous ed in order to prevent contamination of milk by animals. Where 126 
separation is not possible, adequate measures should be taken to ensure that the milk 127 
is not contaminated.  128 
 For goats, it is recommend that milking areas be positioned at least 50 meters away 129 
from and in the opposite wind direction of the buck pens.  130 
b. Premises where milking is performed should be situated, constructed (if applicable) 131 
and maintained in a manner that will prevent or minimize contamination of milk. 132 
There should be effective separatio n from all sources of contamination such as 133 
lavatories and manure heaps.  134 
 135 
c. Immediate removal of manure after milking should be practiced. For goats on 136 
elevated milking platform, the area should be designed to allow separation from 137 
accumulations of manure.  138 
 139 
d. Pigs, poultry and other animals should not be allowed to gain access to the milking 140 
are. 141 
 142 
e. Milking area should be designed to facilitate ease of cleaning, particularly in areas 143 
subject to soiling or contamination.  144 
 145 
f. Flooring should be constructed to facilit ate draining of liquids and ad equate means of 146 
disposing waste.  147 
 148 
g. There should be a dequate ventilation and lighting . 149 
 150 
4.1.3 Waste Management  151 
a. Where a farm has a milking herd comprised of more than one species, there must be 152 
management considerations that shou ld comply with sanitary conditions for each 153 
species.  154 
b. Farm premises shou ld be kept clean and free of potential cond itions conduc ive to 155 
breeding of pests, animal pa rasites and disease  outbreak.  This is to avoid negative 156 
effects on the landscap e, environment and animal welfare. 157 
c. Organic materials shou ld be regularly removed from all livestock contact surfaces 158 
(i.e., floors, pen partitions).  Where bedd ing is used, it shou ld be regularly replaced.  159 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 8 d. The farm shou ld have a proper and  functional drainage system tow ards a water 160 
treatment facility . Solid and liquid waste should be managed and disposed according 161 
to existing relevant guidelines imposed by competent authorities.  162 
e. The farm should have a written sanitation program that includes integrated pest 163 
management.  164 
f. The farm operator should maintain and display clear instructions on procedu re for 165 
disposal  of farm solid wastes and farm chemical wastes (e.g. expired 166 
pesticide/weedicide and containers, paint, etc.) 167 
g. The  farm  operator  should  be  familiar  with  the  proper  procedu re for  disposal  168 
and schedu le of actions to be taken, espec ially at times of emergency. 169 
h.  The farm should have proper handling and disposal system for dead animals, and 170 
should be in accordance with existing regulations of the competent authorit y.  In the 171 
case of burial method, there should be enough space, be in a non -flooding area, and 172 
away from water sources. In the case of carcass pit, carcass should be dropped in a 173 
specific carcass pit with good hygienic practices.  174 
i. The farm should take appr opriate measures to minimize excessive odor coming from 175 
the farm and that which may be associated with waste decomposition.  176 
 177 
4.1.4 Pest Control   178 
a. The farm should have a written pest management program . 179 
b. Pests should be controlled, and in away that does not r esult in unacceptable levels of 180 
residues, such as pesticides, in the milk. All efforts should be made to minimize the 181 
presence of pests  before pesticides or rodenticides are used, e.g. proper building 182 
construction, maintenance, and cleaning, and avoidance of accumulation of manure.  183 
 184 
c. Feed should be kept in containers that provide adequate protection against such 185 
pests. Storage bins or compartments should be located at a suitable place.  186 
 187 
d. If it is necessary to resort to chemical pest control measures, such pro ducts should be 188 
approved officially  for use in food premises and used in accordance with 189 
manufacturer’s instructions. Storage of these chemicals should be in a manner that 190 
will not contaminate the milking environment, e.g. storing away from wet areas and 191 
away from feed storages.  192 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 9  193 
4.1.5 Process Control  194 
a. A routine program to verify the adequacy of cleaning and pest control should be in 195 
place.  196 
 197 
b. Records should be kept to enhance the ability to verify the effectiveness of the control 198 
systems.  199 
 200 
4.2 Animal husbandr y and management  201 
a. Animals should be raised according to Good Animal Husbandry Practices to reduce 202 
the likelihood of introduction of food safety hazards.  203 
 204 
b. Good animal husbandry practice (GAHP) should involve the health and hygiene of 205 
animals, records of tre atment, feed and feed ingredients, and relevant environmental 206 
factors, and should include application of HACCP principles to the greatest extent 207 
practicable.  208 
4.2.1 Animal identification and Traceability  209 
 210 
a. Animals should be identifiable to facilitate effect ive herd management practices.  211 
b. There should be a system to identify  milking  animals that would allow traceability .To 212 
this effect:  213 
 The herd should be registered with the competent;  214 
 Each animal should be identified and registered with the competent authoriti es. 215 
 216 
4.2.2 Animal Health  217 
4.2.2.1  Introduction of new animals  218 
 219 
a. New animals should be separated and not mixed with the herd until their health 220 
status has been established.  During that quarantine  period, milk from those animals 221 
should not be used for the prod uction of milk for the manufacture of milk products;  222 
 223 
b. The owner should keep a record of relevant information, e.g. vaccination records, 224 
results of tests carried out to establish the status of an animal just being introduced, 225 
and identity for each animal ei ther coming or leaving the herd . 226 
 227 
4.2.2.2 Management of the milking herd  228 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 10 a. The health status of milking animals and herds should be managed in a manner that 229 
addresses the hazards of concern for human health; these include programs and 230 
procedures for the:  231 
 Eradication of animal diseases or control of risk of transmission of the diseases 232 
according to the specific zoonosis ; 233 
 Segregation of diseased animals from healthy animals; and  234 
 Management of new animals introduced into the herd.  235 
 236 
b. Milk should come from animals in good health so that, considering the end use, it does 237 
not adversely affect the safety and suitability of the end product. Generally, these are 238 
animals that:  239 
 Do not show visible impairment of general health;  240 
 Are not suffering from any infection of the u dder and genital tract with 241 
discharge, enteritis with diarrhea, and fever; and 242 
 Do not show any evidence of infectious diseases transferable to humans 243 
through milk, including but not limited to those diseases governed by the OIE 244 
Terrestrial Animal Heath Cod e. 245 
 246 
c. Milk from animals that have been treated with veterinary drugs that can be 247 
transferred to milk should be discarded appropriately until the withdrawal period of 248 
the drug has been achieved.  249 
 250 
d. Milk should come from animals that have been tested and are not  positive for 251 
tuberculosis and brucellosis, and other diseases as prescribed by the competent 252 
authority. Testing should be done annually or as prescribed by the competent 253 
authority.  254 
 255 
e. Maintenance of good udder and teat health is vital; adequate measures sho uld be 256 
implemented in order to prevent udder infections, e.g.  257 
 Proper calibration, use, cleaning and disinfection of milking equipment;  258 
 Procedures for udder cleaning and disinfection before, during, and after 259 
milking;  260 
 Proper management of animal holding ar eas; and  261 
 Proper management of dry and lactation periods.  262 
 263 
f. Records of relevant information should be kept, e.g. tests results, animal movement in 264 
and out of the herd, treatment records, and animal identification. The farm should 265 
keep a record of the veterin ary products used, including the quantity, the dates of 266 
administrations and the identity of the animals.  Milk  tests  results may also provide 267 
information regarding the health status of the animals.  268 
 269 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 11 4.2.2.3 Use of veterinary drugs  270 
 271 
a. Good husbandry procedures  should be used to reduce the likelihood of animal disease 272 
and thus reduce the use of veterinary drugs.  273 
 274 
b. Animals should only be treated with veterinary drugs authorized by the competent 275 
authority for the specific use.  276 
 277 
4.2.3 Feeding systems  278 
a. The relevant a spects of feeding management in the PNS Code of Good Animal 279 
Husbandry Practice should be applied to minimize or prevent the introduction of 280 
contaminants through feed or feeding practices.  281 
 282 
b. With consideration given to the end use of the milk, forage and fee d for lactating 283 
animals should not introduce, directly or indirectly, contaminants into milk in 284 
amounts that present an unacceptable health risk to the consumer or adversely affect 285 
the suitability of milk or milk products.  286 
 287 
c. In cases of feeds that are prese rved for future feeding,  it is necessary that the feed be 288 
prepared, stored and used in a manner that will minimize microbial contamination. 289 
Particular attention shall be given to compliance with good practices concerning the 290 
following aspects:  291 
 The design o f silos;  292 
 Good production practices of haylage ; and  293 
 Regular check of the quality of the preserved  feed (organoleptic inspection or 294 
pH).  295 
d. Only those products, premixes and feed additives that have been authorized by the 296 
competent authority for inclusion in an imal feed should be used.  297 
 298 
e. The farm operator should keep a record of relevant information concerning feed.  299 
 300 
f. In cases of farm -mixed feed formulation, farm operators should only use ingredients 301 
from authorized and traceable suppliers.  Records of purchases should be kept.  302 
 303 
g. Procurement documents of feed concentrates should be kept and updated properly 304 
and should include:  305 
 supplier or source of feed concentrate and its registration number;  306 
 type of feed and supplements;  307 
 quantity;  308 
 declaration of ingredients;  309 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 12  docu ment of feed analysis;  310 
 date of delivery; and  311 
 date of manufacturing and batch number  312 
 expiry date  313 
 314 
4.3 Personnel  315 
4.3.1 Health and personal hygiene of milking personnel  316 
a. Milking personnel should be in good health. Persons known or suspected to be 317 
suffering fro m, or to be a carrier of, a disease likely to be transmitted to the milk, 318 
should not enter milk handling areas if there is a likelihood of their contaminating the 319 
milk.  Any person so affected should immediately report illness or symptoms of illness 320 
to the management.  321 
 322 
b. Facilities for personal hygiene should follow the recommendations found the in the 323 
General Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1 -1969).  324 
 325 
c. Medical examination of a milk handler should be carried out if clinically or 326 
epidemiologically indicated . 327 
 328 
d. Milk handlers should maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness.  329 
 330 
4.3.2 Training  331 
Milk producers and milk handlers involved in the harvesting, collection, and transport of 332 
milk should be trained as necessary and have appropriate skills in the areas l isted below:  333 
 334 
 Hygienic milking;  335 
 Storage, handling, collection and transport of milk (cleaning of storage 336 
tanks, temperature requirements, sampling procedures, etc.);  337 
 Microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards and their control measures.  338 
 Disease contro l and prevention;  339 
 Management and control of mastitis;  340 
 Manufacturing and use of feeds (more specifically preserved feeds); and  341 
 Herd management  342 
 343 
5 Hygienic milking  344 
5.1  Milkers and milk handlers  345 
a. Milkers and milk handlers  should perform their duties in a hygi enic manner so that 346 
their activities will not result in contamination of milk.  347 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 13  348 
b. Milk handlers should wear clean clothing . Should clothing and footwear be 349 
contaminated with manure, the soiled clothes and footwear should be changed or 350 
cleaned before work is continued.  351 
 352 
 353 
c. Milk handling operations should not be performed by persons at risk of transferring 354 
pathogens to milk. Appropriate medical follow -up should be done in the case of an 355 
infected worker.  356 
 357 
5.2  Milking procedures  358 
a. There should be a mastitis control program  in place.  359 
 360 
b. Factors to consider in carrying out hygienic milking include but is not limited to:  361 
 Good personal hygiene of the milking personnel (see Section 5.3.1 on Personal 362 
Hygiene) which includes but is not limited to:  363 
o Proper washing of hands and forearms (up to elbow) before initiating 364 
milking or handling of milk, or as necessary;  365 
 366 
o Milking not being performed by persons having exposed abrasions or cuts 367 
on their hands or forearms. Any injury on hands or forearms must be 368 
covered with a water -resista nt bandage;  369 
o Wearing of suitable clothing, including face mask, hair nets or head caps, 370 
during milking and which should be clean at the commencement of each 371 
milking period.  372 
 Good hygiene of the milking area or milk production environment  373 
 Clean udders, teats,  groin, flanks, and abdomens of the animals  374 
 Clean and disinfected milking vessels/equipment  375 
 Avoidance of any damage to the tissue of the teat/udder  376 
 377 
c. Milking should be carried out in such a manner that minimizes contamination (e.g. 378 
manure or dust) of the mi lk being produced.   379 
 380 
d. Animals showing clinical symptoms of disease or those undergoing treatment with 381 
veterinary drugs that leave residues in milk should be segregated and/or milked last, 382 
or milked by separate milking equipment or by hand, and such milk sh ould not be 383 
used for human consumption.  384 
 385 
e. The milker should check that the milk and milking animals appear normal through:  386 
 Careful observation of the condition of milking animals;  387 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 14  Checking the organoleptic or physicochemical indicators of milk of each anima l; 388 
and  389 
 Using records and identification of treated animals.  390 
 391 
f. Foremilk from each teat should be discarded or extracted separately and not used for 392 
human consumption unless it can be shown that it does not affect the safety and 393 
suitability of the milk.  394 
 395 
g. There should be appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of infections to teats 396 
and udders, e.g teat dips.  397 
 398 
 399 
5.3 Milk contact surfaces and related paraphernalia  400 
a. Equipment selected for installation on dairy farms should meet recognized design and 401 
construc tion standards. Milking equipment and utensils which are intended to come 402 
into contact with milk (e.g containers, tanks, etc.) should be easy to clean and 403 
disinfect, corrosion resistant and not capable of transferring substances to milk in 404 
such quantities as to present a health risk to the consumer.  405 
 406 
b. The design of milking equipment, where used, and cans, should ensure there are no 407 
crevices or recesses that can interfere with proper cleaning.  408 
 409 
c. Milking equipment should be installed and tested (if applicable ) in accordance with 410 
manufacturer’s instructions and in accordance with any available technical standards 411 
that have been established by appropriate technical standards setting organizations 412 
for such equipment (e.g. IDF, ISO, 3A) in order to assist in assur ing that the equipment 413 
is functioning properly.  414 
 415 
d. Milking equipment should be operated in a manner that will avoid damage to udder 416 
and teats and that will avoid the transfer of disease between animals through the 417 
milking equipment.  418 
  419 
e. Recognized guidelines f or the cleaning and maintenance of milking equipment should 420 
be followed to ensure obtaining milk that is safe and suitable.  421 
 422 
f. Water and media used for rinsing and cleaning should be appropriate for the purpose, 423 
such that it will not result in contamination of the milk. Only potable water can be 424 
used in contact with milking equipment and other milk contact surfaces.  425 
 426 
g. Milking equipment, utensils, and storage tanks and other vessels should be 427 
thoroughly cleaned and disinfected following each milking, and dried when 428 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 15 appropriate. Rinsing of equipment and storage tanks following cleaning and 429 
disinfection should remove all detergents and disinfectants, except in those 430 
circumstances where manufacturer instructions indicate that rinsing is not required.  431 
 432 
h. There should  be a periodic maintenance and calibration process to ensure that 433 
milking equipment is in good working condition . 434 
 435 
6 Suitability of the milk  436 
a. Milk should not contain any contaminant at a level that jeopardizes the appropriate 437 
level of public health protecti on when presented to the consumer.  438 
 439 
b. Milk that does not appear normal should not be used for human consumption.  440 
 441 
c. The microbial load and somatic cell counts of milk should be within the limits set in 442 
recognized standards, using good milk production practices , taking into account the 443 
technological requirements for subsequent processing.  444 
 445 
d. Milk may not be suitable if the milk is:  446 
 447 
(1) Is damaged, deteriorated or perished to an extent that makes it unfit for its 448 
reasonable intended use; or  449 
 450 
(2) Contains any damaged, dete riorated or spoiled substance that makes the milk 451 
unfit for its reasonable intended use; or  452 
 453 
(3) Contains a biological or chemical agent, or other matter or substance, that is 454 
foreign to the nature of the food and that makes the milk unfit for its 455 
reasonable i ntended use.  456 
 457 
7 Milk Storage  458 
a. Immediately after milking, the milk should be filtered then stored in properly 459 
designed and maintained tanks or cans in a clean place.  460 
 461 
b. It should be stored in a manner that avoids the introduction of contaminants into milk 462 
and in a manner that minimizes the growth of micro -organisms. Contact of milk with 463 
unsanitary equipment and foreign materials should be avoided.  464 
 465 
c. In situations where the milk cannot be chilled on the farm, collection and delivery of 466 
this milk to a collection c enter or processing facility within certain time limits may be 467 
required. These conditions may be specified in legislation, in Codes of Practice, or by 468 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 16 the manufacturer receiving the milk in collaboration with the milk producer and the 469 
competent authority.  470 
 471 
7.1 Time and temperature considerations  472 
a. Temperature of the milk should be maintained at levels that will sustain the 473 
suitability of milk. The time and temperature conditions for milk storage at the farm 474 
should be established taking into account the follow ing factors: (1) effectiveness of 475 
the control system in place during and after processing, (2) the hygienic condition of 476 
the milk, and (3) the intended duration of storage.  477 
 478 
b. Upon collection, milk should be chilled to a temperature not more than 4 °C at the  479 
fastest time possible 1 unless intended for immediate processing  480 
 481 
c. For storage of milk harvested at different times, i .e. morning and afternoon, the most 482 
immediately harvested milk should be cooled first prior to its storage with the 483 
previously harvested m ilk. 484 
 485 
7.2 Milk storage equipment  486 
a. Milk storage tanks and cans should be designed, constructed, maintained and used in 487 
a manner that will avoid the introduction of contaminants into milk and minimize the 488 
growth of micro -organisms in milk.  489 
 490 
b. Surfaces of milk s torage tanks, cans and associated equipment intended to come into 491 
contact with milk should be easy to clean and disinfect, corrosion resistant and not 492 
capable of transferring substances to milk in quantities that will present a health risk 493 
to the consumer.  494 
 495 
c. Milk storage equipment should be installed and tested (if applicable) in accordance 496 
with manufacturer’s instructions and in accordance with any available technical 497 
standards that have been established by appropriate technical standards setting 498 
organizati ons for such equipment (e.g. IDF, ISO, 3A) in order to assist in assuring that 499 
the equipment is functioning properly.  500 
 501 
d. Storage tanks and cans should be cleaned and disinfected regularly and with sufficient 502 
frequency to minimize or prevent contamination of milk.  503 
 504 
e. Milk tanks and cans should not be used to store any substance other than milk.  505 
                                                             
1 Deviations from this temperature may be acceptable if these deviations will not  result in an increased risk of 
microbiological hazards, have been approved by the manufacturer recei ving the milk, have been approved by the 
competent authority and the end product will still meet the microbiological criteria established by the competent 
authority.  DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 17  506 
f. Storage tanks or portions of storage tanks should be adequately protected or designed 507 
such that they prevent access of insects, rodents and dust in order to prevent 508 
cont amination of milk.  509 
 510 
g. There should be periodic maintenance and calibration to ensure that milk storage 511 
equipment is in good working condition.  512 
 513 
7.3 Premises for the storage of milk and milking -related equipment  514 
a. Premises for the storage of milk and milking -related equipment should be situated, 515 
designed, constructed, maintained and used in a manner that avoids the introduction 516 
of contaminants into milk.  517 
 518 
b. Premises for the storage of milk should have:  519 
 Suitable refrigeration equipment, when appropriate;  520 
 Suitable s upply of potable water for use in milking and in cleaning of 521 
equipment and instruments;  522 
 Protection against pests; and  523 
 Easily cleanable floors, if applicable.  524 
 525 
8 Collection, transport and delivery of milk  526 
a. In areas without chilling facilities, milk should be  delivered immediately to the 527 
nearest chilling center. Transport and delivery of milk should be done without undue 528 
delay and in a manner that avoids introduction of contaminants into milk and 529 
minimizes  the growth of micro organisms in milk.  530 
 531 
b. Personnel and v ehicular access to the place of collection should be adequate for the 532 
suitable hygienic handling of milk. In particular, access to the place of collection 533 
should be clear of manure, silage, etc.  534 
 535 
8.1 Transport and delivery procedures  536 
a. Prior to transport, th e milk hauler or collector or chilling center operator should 537 
check the individual producer’s milk to ensure that the milk does not present obvious 538 
indications of spoilage and deterioration. If the milk shows indications of spoilage and 539 
deterioration, it s hould not be collected.  540 
 541 
b. Collection and chilling centers, if employed, should be designed and operated in such 542 
a manner that minimizes or prevents the contamination of milk.  543 
 544 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 18 c. The milk hauler or collection center should, where appropriate, take samples in s uch a 545 
way to avoid contamination of the milk and should ensure that the milk has the 546 
adequate storage/in -take temperature prior to collection.  547 
 548 
d. Milk to be used for the manufacture of raw milk products shall be collected 549 
separately. Mixing, or cross -contami nation with milk which does not comply with the 550 
quality (including microbiological) expected for the processing of raw milk products 551 
shall not be allowed. For example:  552 
 Organize collection pick -ups in such a way that milk for the manufacture of 553 
raw milk pro ducts be collected separately;  554 
 Use milk transport tankers with compartments that will allow the separation 555 
of the milk for different purposes.  556 
 557 
8.2 Collection and transport equipment  558 
a. Milk transport tankers and cans should be designed, constructed, maintain ed and 559 
used in a manner that will avoid the introduction of contaminants into milk and 560 
minimize the growth of micro -organisms in milk.  561 
 562 
b. Guidance for the bulk transport of foods is given in the Code of Hygienic Practice for 563 
the Transport of Food in Bulk and  Semi -Packaged Food (CAC/RCP 47 -2001).  564 
 565 
c. Milk cans and transport tankers (including the milk discharge area, valves, etc.) 566 
should be cleaned and disinfected with sufficient frequency in order to minimize or 567 
prevent contamination of milk . The design and cons truction should be such that 568 
surfaces are easy to clean and disinfect, are corrosion resistant, and not capable of 569 
transferring substances to the milk that would make it unfit; and that complete 570 
drainage after cleaning and disinfection can be done . 571 
 572 
d. Milk transport tankers and cans should only be used to transport milk.  573 
 574 
e. Trucks or other vehicles which carry the tank or cans should be cleaned whenever 575 
necessary.  576 
 577 
8.3 Transport time and temperature  578 
a. Transport temperature and time should be such that milk is tra nsported to the dairy 579 
plant or to the collection/chilling center in manner that minimizes any  detrimental 580 
effect on the safety and suitability of milk.  581 
 582 
b. The time and temperature conditions for the hauling of milk from the farm should be 583 
established taking  into account the effectiveness of control system in place, the 584 
hygienic condition of the milk, and the intended duration of storage.  585 DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 19  586 
c. The transport temperature of the milk should be maintained at 4 °C.2 587 
 588 
9 Documentation and record keeping  589 
With respect to f ood safety and where necessary, records of the following should be kept:  590 
 Animal treatment and vaccination records, e.g. products used, date of 591 
administration and withdrawal period, disease occurrence affecting safety of 592 
milk  593 
 Results of analysis carried ou t on samples taken fro m animals (e.g. milk, blood ) 594 
or other samples taken for diagnostic purposes that have importance for 595 
human health  596 
 Identification and movement of animals;  597 
 Regular control of udder health;   598 
 Nature and source of feed;  599 
 Use of pest control  chemicals;  600 
 Use of cleaning reagent and chemicals and the concentration used;  601 
 Use of agricultural chemicals;  602 
 Milk storage equipment cleaning and maintenance;  603 
 Milk quality and evaluation; and  604 
 Milk transport condition – temperature, transport time.  605 
606 
                                                             
2 Deviations from this temperature may be acceptable if these deviations will not  result i n an increased risk of 
microbiological hazards, have been approved by the manufacturer receiving the milk, have been approved by the 
competent authority and the end product will still meet the microbiological criteria established by the competent 
authority . DRAFT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD                                                      PNS/BAFS ____________  
Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk  
 
 20  607 
REFEREN CES 608 
 609 
Codex Alimentarius Commission. Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products. 610 
CAC/RCP 57 -2004. Adopted 2004. Revised 2009.  611 
 612 
Codex Alimentarius Commission. General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms. CODEX 613 
STAN 206 -1999.  614 
 615 
Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards. PNS 60:2008. Good Animal Husbandry 616 
Practices.  617 
 618