UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION 
  
 
MINISTERIAL REGULATION  
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD ON   
GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES F OR MILK COLLECTION CENTER   
AS A MANDATORY STANDARD  
B.E. 2559 (2016) 
 
By virtue of Section 5 paragraph one and Section 15 paragraph t wo of the 
Agricultural Standards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008), the Minister of A griculture and Cooperatives 
hereby issues this Ministerial Regulation as follows: 
Section 1 This Ministerial Regul ation shall come into force aft er three hundred 
and sixty-five days as from the date of its publication in the Royal Gazette.  
Section 2 The Thai Agricultural Standard TAS 6401-2015 in accor dance with 
the Notification of the Ministr y of Agriculture and Cooperative s on the Establishment of Thai 
Agricultural Standard: Good Manufacturing Practices for Milk Co llection Center under the 
Agricultural Standards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008) dated 21 September  B.E. 2558 (2015) shall be 
established as a mandatory standard. 
     
           Given on the 28
th Day of September B.E. 2559 (2016) 
 
           (General Chatchai Sarikalya) 
                              Minister of Agriculture and Coope ratives 
          
 
 
Remark :  Rationale for the promulgation of this Act is that: Raw milk is an important 
agricultural commodity of Thailand. However, almost of dairy fa rmers are small-scale and 
locate scatter all ove r the country. Milk c ollection center is necessary in order to collect raw 
milk before further proc essing for milk products.  Therefore, the control of raw milk collection 
center is required ; starting from raw milk receiving, cooling,  storage and  trans portation prior 
to deliver to milk processing pl ant in order to obtain good qua lity of raw milk  that meets the 
standard and safe for consumers. Consequently  the Notification of the M inistry of A griculture 
and Cooperatives on the Establishment of Thai Agricultural Stan dard: Good Manufacturing 
Practices for Milk Collection Ce nter under the Agricultural Sta ndards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008) 
was promulgated on  21st September 2015.    The public hearing for stakeholders was conducted 
to follow Section 18 under the Ag ricultural Standard Act B.E. 2 551. Thus, it is deemed 
necessary to establish the Thai  Agricultural St andard: Good Man ufacturing Pract ices for Milk 
Collection Center as a  mandatory standard. 
 
. 
 
 
 
    
 TAS 6401-2015  
THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD  
GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES FOR MILK COLLECTION CENTER  
 
 1.   SCOPE 
 
This standard establishes requirements for good manufacturing p ractices of milk collection center, 
starting from raw milk receiving, temperature reducing, storing , transporting, including farming 
extension  in order to obtain ra w milk with quality suitable fo r processing into product that meets 
the standard and is safe for consumers. 
  
2.   DEFINITIONS 
For the purpose of this standard: 
 
2.1 Raw milk  means milk produced from cow not less than three days after cal ving, and free from 
colostrum without either addition to it or extraction from it a nd not subject to any form of 
processing, except cooling. The term “milk” shall be used there of. 
 2.2 Milk Collection Center (MCC) means an establishment where m ilk is received and collected 
from members whereby the milk is cooled down prior to deliverin g to the processing plants or 
other milk collection centers. This does not include the farm e quipped with cooling tank. 
 2.3 Milk receiving area means an area in MCC designed to facili tate receiving and inspecting of 
milk. It is equipped with equipment and utensils that are hygie nic.  
 
 
2.4 Milk receiving equipment means specifically designed equipm ent for milk collecting, 
consisting of receiving vessels, collecting vessels, filter sys tem, pipelines, pumps and other related 
equipment and utensils.  
 
2.5 Plate heat exchanger (PHE) means a set of devices used for the immediate reduction of milk 
temperature through heat exchanging principle.  
 
2.6 Storage tank  means a specifically designed container used for milk storage, divided into: 
2.6.1 Storage tank without cooling system. It is designed to st ore and maintain the temperature of 
pre-cooled milk. 
2.6.2 Storage tank with cooling system (cooling tank). It is de signed with built-in cooling system 
to reduce and maintain the temperature of milk.  2.7 Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) means a method of cleaning of inter ior surfaces of receiving and 
storing equipment including whole system of  transferring pipel ines without disassembly.   
 
2.8 Member  means a dairy farmer who is registered as a member and commits to deliver produce 
only to a MCC. The farmer shall not register in duplication wit h other MCCs.   
 TAS 6401-XXXX                                                   2 
2.9 Traceability/product tracing means the ability to follow th e movement of a food through 
specified stage(s) of production, processing and distribution. 
3. REQUIREMENTS    
Items and Requirements of Good M anufacturing Practices for Milk  Collection Center are shown 
in table 1. 
Table 1 Items and Requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices for Milk Collection 
Center  
(Section 3) 3                                                   TAS 6401-XX XX                   
Items Requirements 
1. Establishment and 
Facilities 
(1) Location  
 
1.1 Locate in the area with environment that poses no risk of 
contamination causing any adverse effect to the quality of milk  and 
the safety of consumer. In case of potential risk, preventive m easures 
shall be in place. 
(2) Building 1.2 Structure of the building shall be sturdy, easy to clean an d 
maintain, and able to prevent cross contamination that cause ad verse 
effect to the quality of milk and the safety of consumers. 
1.3 The building and surrounding areas are clean. 
1.4 Interior building design and processing lines layout shall facilitate 
hygienic practices to reduce contamination during operation tha t 
cause adverse effect to the safety of consumers. 
1.5 Availability of adequate areas for operation, proper separa te into 
areas for milk receiving, quality control and testing, installe d 
machine, chemical storage and office. 
(3) Equipment and utensils  
 1.6 There shall be adequate numbers of equipment and utensils, 
appropriately installed to facilitate operation and cleaning. 
1.7 Pumps, valves, piping system and hoses shall be durable, cl ean 
and hygienic. Particularly, the parts that directly contact wit h milk 
shall be made of permitted materials, non corrosive and chemica lly 
non reactive with milk. They can be cleaned thoroughly.  
1.8  Milk hoses and water hoses, including pipelines and other utensils 
used jointly with such hoses shall be clearly separated accordi ng to 
their purposes of use. 
1.9 Milk receiving vessels shall be hygienic and convenient for  use 
with adequate capacity.  
1.10 Milk receiving equipment shall be clean, adequate capacity  and 
appropriate for use. 
1.11 Milk storage tank, pipes and valves shall be designed and installed to facilitate thoroughly cleaning and disinfection, i ncluding 
complete liquid draining.  
 1.12 Equipment for weighing and measuring, which are important for 
operation, shall be precise and accurate. Such equipment shall be 
calibrated at least once a year and verified periodically.  
Items Requirements 
(4)  Facilities  
1.13  Operation room shall have adequate lighting. 
TAS 6401-XXXX                                                   4 
1.14  Availability of adequate ventilation for operation. 
1.15  Availability of adequate cleaning facilities. 
1.16  Availability of adequate personal hygiene facilities and toilet s. 
1.1 7  Availability of adequate space and facilities for washing empty  
milk cans.  
(5) Utility system  
1.18  Availability of power system  with adequate power supply. 
1.19  Lighting equipment is adequate and installed in hygienic 
manner. 
1.20  Availability of back up power generator or appropriate me asures 
for milk management during the blackout. 
1.21 Water, either in contact with milk or surface in contact w ith milk, 
shall be in compliance with Notification of Ministry of Public Health 
entitled Drinking water in tightly sealed container. Water supp ly at 
the MCC shall be adequate. 
1.22  Water used, otherwise, in production areas shall be clean  o r  
treated as necessary. 
1.23  Water shall be tested for its quality according to the st andard at 
least once a year. 
2. Control Operation 
(1)  Milk receiving  
2.1 Establish milk quality specifications and receiving inspect ion 
procedures. 
2.2  Receive milk from registered members or other MCC, in case  of 
receiving milk from other MCC, milk temperature shall not be hi gher 
than 8 ○C. 
2.3  Measures for control of deliv ery time of milk from farm to  MCC 
shall be in place.   
2.4   Milk shall be rapidly managed for the temperature reducti on process. 
(2)  Milk temperature 
reduction 2.5  Milk cooling system shall have adequate cooling capacity f or the 
amount of milk. 
 2.6  In case of using PHE, milk temperature shall be reduced to  not 
higher than 4 ○C immediately after passing through the PHE. In case 
using storage tank equipped with cooling system, milk temperatu re 
shall not be higher than 4○C within 2 hours.  
2.7  Availability of water quality control and filtration in th e cooling 
water pipeline system. 
Items Requirements 5                                                   TAS 6401-XX XX                   
 2.8  Temperature measurement device for water inlet-outlet and milk 
outlet shall be installed at a proper position and functional. 
2.9 Times and cold water temperatures before and during milk temperature reduction shall be recorded. 
2.10 Times and milk temperatures after passing the temperature reduction shall be recorded. 
(3)  Milk storage 2.11 Store milk in clean storage tanks, which can prevent milk from 
contamination. 
2.12 Storage tank shall maintain milk temperature effectively. Milk 
temperature shall be recorded periodically. 
(4)  Milk quality inspection 2.13 Availability of milk quality inspection/testing plan and 
implement accordingly. 
2.14 Apparatus for milk quality inspection and testing shall me et the 
standard. 
2.15 Availability of technically sound methods and proper appar atus 
for milk sampling.  
3. Maintenance and sanitation  
(1) Cleaning  
3.1 Measures on cleaning for operation buildings and surroundin g 
areas shall be in place. 
3.2 Appropriate measures on cleaning for equipment and utensils  
including disassemble parts or others, apart from the CIP syste m shall 
be in place.  
(2)  Cleaning In Place (CIP) 3.3  Adequate and appropriate CIP systems for thorough and effe ctive 
cleaning shall be in place. 
3.4 Availability of operating manual and record of CIP system 
management inspection for both equipment and milk transport vehicles, i.e. duration of cleaning, temperature, concentration  o f  
chemicals used and chemicals and water flow rates.  
3.5 Temperature measurement devices shall be installed in the C IP 
system at the appropriate position that functions properly and accurately. 
3.6  Concentration of chemicals shall be checked at each applic ation.
3.7  Chemical residues in the system shall be properly inspecte d. 
(3)  Maintenance 
of equipment and utensils 3.8 Inspection and maintenance programs of equipment and utensi ls 
shall be available. 
(4)  Pest Control 3.9 Pest control measures shall be in place. 
Items Requirements TAS 6401-XXXX                                                   6 
(5)  Chemical 
management  
3.10 Non food chemicals, i.e. cleaning agents, lubricant, inclu ding 
their containers shall be managed hygienically. 
3.11  Chemicals shall be stored separately and clearly labelled . 
(6)  Waste water and 
waste management  
3.12 Waste water treatment procedures before discharging treate d 
water into public water resources shall be provided. 
3.13  Appropriate disposal procedures of garbage and waste shal l be 
available. 
4. Personal hygiene  
4.1 Personnel, including those engaged in milk transport, shall  behave and 
operate in hygienic manner and have medical examination once a year. 
4.2 Personnel shall properly maintain their personal cleanlines s during 
operation, such as wearing protective clothing, hair covering, and mask. 
4.3 Visitor who enters the operation area shall adhere to perso nal 
hygiene provisions. 
5. Transportation 
  
5.1 Milk transport tanker shall be insulated to maintain milk 
temperature not higher than 8○C until reaching its destination. 
5.2 Prepare milk transporting appropriately and hygienically. R ecord 
the relevant information. 
5.3 Standard sampling method shall be provided. Milk from trans port 
vehicle shall be sampled for quality inspection before leaving the MCC. 
In case of non compliance, corrective actions shall be performe d. 
5.4 Control the milk being transported to the processing plant.  
6. Traceability 
  
6.1. Availability of traceability system to known sources of in coming 
milk and their delivered places. 
6.2 Availability of management for customer complaint.   
7. Training  
7.1 Personnel shall be trained on their capability related to r oles and 
responsibilities such as production processes, hygiene, and mil k 
quality inspection. 
7.2 Availability of personnel training programs and evaluations . 
Items Requirements 7                                                   TAS 6401-XX XX                   
8. Farming extension  
system for members  
(1)  Individual farm 
Extension  
8.1  Member registration record and farm data shall be up to da te. 
Milk shall be received from registered farm only. One member sh all 
be registered to only one MCC, without duplication. 
8.2  Availability of extension personnel and activities to impr ove milk 
quality production for members e.g. training. 
(2)  Individual farm member evaluation 8.3  Availability of milk quality evaluation system for member.  
8.4 Milk quality and evaluation results shall be informed back to 
member. 
(3)  Milk quality encouragement  for member 8.5  Certain milk purchasing period shall be scheduled.  
8.6  Purchased price of milk shall be according to quality. 
9. Documentation 
and records  
9.1 The following data shall be recorded :       - Calibration of equipment for weighing and measuring (Se ction 
1.12) 
      - Treatment of water used in production processes and wat er 
quality test results (Sections 1.22 and 1.23)  
      -  Control operation for milk receiving, temperature reduction, 
temperature records, quality inspection, storage and transporta tion 
(Sections 2 and 5) 
      - Milk quality inspection results in processing steps  (S ection 
2.(2)) 
      - Cleaning and maintenance of equipment and utensils, bui ldings 
and surrounding areas (Sections 3(1) and 3(3)) 
      - CIP system (Section 3(2))       - Pests control and chemicals management  (Sections 3(4) and 
3(5)) 
      - Personal hygiene (Section 4)        - Training records (Section 7) 
      - Activities of faming extension system and milk quality 
evaluation results  (Section 8) 
9.2 Records shall be kept for at least 3 years.