Alabama Administrative Code › Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH › Chapter 420-3-16 - PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, HANDLING OR DISTRIBUTION OF MILK, MILK PRODUCTS AND FROZEN DESSERTS › APPENDICES › Appendix P - PERFORMANCE-BASED DAIRY FARM INSPECTION SYSTEM

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
PREFACE
A performance-based inspection system is an option to the
				  traditional routine inspection frequency of at least once every six (6) months
				  on Grade "A" dairy farms. This option provides Regulatory Agencies with a
				  choice. For some regulatory agencies, inspecting every farm routinely twice a
				  year may provide effective regulatory oversight and make efficient use of
				  inspection resources. For other regulatory agencies, an optional system which
				  determines routine farm inspection frequency based on producer milk quality and
				  inspection performance may be more desirable, equally effective, and make the
				  most efficient use of limited inspection resources. The overall inspection
				  effort devoted to a performance-based farm inspection system may be more or
				  less than the traditional inspection system which requires a routine inspection
				  at least once every six (6) months per farm.
INSPECTION INTERVAL AND CRITERIA
Dairy farms shall be categorized at least every three (3)
				  months using the previous twelve (12) month farm inspection and milk quality
				  data. The following criteria shall be used to categorize farms into four (4)
				  inspection intervals as defined below:
MINIMUM ONE (1) YEAR INSPECTION INTERVAL (ONE [1]
				  INSPECTION EACH TWELVE [12] MONTHS)
All criteria below shall have been met for the previous
				  twelve (12) months:
1. No more than one (1) sample with a SPC >25,000, but
				  less than 100,000.
2. All Somatic Cell Count (SCC) samples <= 500,000.
3. No cooling temperature violations.
4. No drug residue violations.
5. No "critical control point" violations observed during
				  farm inspections. Critical violations are identified on Form FDA 2359a-Dairy
				  Farm Inspection Report (FDA 2359a) as:
a. 10-Cleaning and 11-Sanitization.
b. 15(d)-Drugs properly labeled and 15(e)-Drugs properly used
				  and stored.
c. 18-Cooling (Significant Violations).
6. No violation that creates a substantial risk of
				  adulteration or an imminent health hazard.
7. No more than five (5) violations documented on any
				  inspection sheet.
8. No consecutive inspection violations on any inspection
				  item.
9. No record of suspended permit, certification or license
				  due to inspection, milk quality, or drug residue deficiencies.
10. Bacteriologically safe water supply at the time of
				  categorization.
Note:
Farms in this category who are
				  re-categorized to a six (6) month inspection interval for a single violation of
				  one (1) milk quality parameter (SCC > 500,000 or cooling temperature
				  violation) may be re-categorized to the one (1) year inspection interval if all
				  ten (10) criteria listed above are met for the next six (6) months.
MINIMUM SIX (6) MONTH INSPECTION INTERVAL (ONE [1]
				  INSPECTION EACH SIX (6) MONTHS)
All criteria below shall have been met for the previous
				  twelve (12) months:
1. May have more than one (1) sample with SPC
				  >25,000.
2. May have one (1) or more SCC sample >500,000.
3. No more than one (1) warning letter issued due to
				  non-compliance of two (2) out of four (4) previous official sample results for
				  SPC and SCC.
4. No cooling temperature violations.
5. No drug residue violations.
6. No "critical control point" violations observed during
				  farm inspections. Critical violations are identified on FDA 2359a as:
a. 10-Cleaning and 11-Sanitization.
15(d)-Drugs properly labeled and 15(e)-Drugs properly used
				  and stored.
b. 18-Cooling (Significant Violations).
7. No violation that creates a substantial risk of
				  adulteration or an imminent health hazard.
8. No more than five (5) violations documented on any
				  inspection sheet.
9. No consecutive inspection violations on any inspection
				  item.
10. No record of suspended permit, certification, or license
				  due to inspection, milk quality, or drug residue deficiencies.
11. Bacteriologically safe water supply at the time of
				  categorization.
Note:
Farms meeting the criteria for one (1)
				  year or six (6) month inspection intervals but with less than twelve (12)
				  months of farm inspection and milk quality history, i.e., new farms, shall be
				  assigned to a six (6) month inspection interval.
MINIMUM FOUR (4) MONTH INSPECTION INTERVAL (ONE [1]
				  INSPECTION EACH FOUR [4] MONTHS)
Any criteria listed below results in the farm being placed
				  into this inspection interval for twelve (12) months from the next
				  re-categorization:
1. More than one (1) warning letter issued due to
				  non-compliance of two (2) out of four (4) previous official sample results for
				  SPC and SCC.
2. Farm conditions that caused the Health Officer to take
				  official regulatory action, i.e., warning letter, intent to suspend,
				  re-inspection, etc.
3. One (1) drug residue violation.
4. "Critical control point" violations observed during farm
				  inspections. Critical violations are identified on FDA 2359a as:
a. 10-Cleaning and 11-Sanitization.
b. 15(d)-Drugs properly labeled and 15(e)-Drugs properly used
				  and stored.
c. 18-Cooling (Significant Violations).
5. A violation that creates a substantial risk of
				  adulteration or an imminent health hazard.
6. More than five (5) violations on any inspection.
7. Unsafe water supply at the time of categorization.
MINIMUM THREE (3) MONTH INSPECTION INTERVAL (ONE [1]
				  INSPECTION EACH THREE [3] MONTHS)
Any criteria listed below results in the farm being placed
				  into this inspection interval for twelve (12) months from the next
				  re-categorization:
1. More than one (1) drug residue violation.
2. Any farm suspended from the market by the Health Officer
				  during the previous twelve (12) month evaluation period for any reason other
				  than drug residue violations.
3. More than one (1) incident where violative farm conditions
				  or milk quality parameters resulted in the Health Officer taking official
				  regulatory action, i.e., warning letter, intent to suspend, re-inspection,
				  etc.
Note:
The above guidelines for Grade "A" farm
				  inspection intervals are not intended to prevent farm inspections at more
				  frequent intervals, if in the judgment of the Health Officer, more frequent
				  intervals are necessary.
Author:
G. M. Gallaspy, Jr.
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala. 1975,
					 §§
											22-2-2,
					 22-20-7.