Indiana Administrative Code › Title 375 - INDIANA STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › Article 1 - INDIANA ORGANIC CERTIFICATION STANDARDS › Rule 4 - Animal Certification Standards › Section 4-12 - Standards for dairy and egg production

Current through July 10, 2024
Authority: IC
				  15-15-8-17
Affected: IC 15-15-8
Sec. 12.
(a) Except
				as otherwise provided in this rule, the certified organic standards are the
				same as for meat production, with the exception of the following additions and
				clarifications:
(1) A dairy animal from which
				milk or milk products will be sold or labeled as organically produced shall be
				raised and handled in accordance with this title for not less than the twelve
				(12) month period immediately prior to the sale of such milk and milk
				products.
(2) Purchased production
				stock into Indiana certified herds must be from certified organic
				sources.
(3) Dairy replacements
				must be nonmedicated, including milk replacer (organic whole milk is
				preferable), up to the required one (1) year prior to certification.
(4) The use of antibiotics, medications, and
				all hormones is prohibited in organic dairy. If recourse to antibiotics or
				hormones is deemed necessary, that animal's production cannot be sold as
				organic. For new herds and replacements, no antibiotic or hormone use will be
				allowed one (1) year prior to certifiable status.
(5) Active intervention products should be
				considered only after acceptable practices have failed. If active intervention
				products are used, milk shall be withheld from the treated animal for a period
				of twelve (12) months.
(6)
				Genetically engineered organisms are prohibited.
(7) Cleansers and sanitizers (on farm): Milk
				equipment sanitizers (CIP and manual) and udder washes are two (2) potential
				sources of contamination. Sanitary standards should be met using materials
				approved for use in Indiana organic standards; however, if nonapproved
				materials must be used due to local rules, all equipment must be rinsed (as
				allowed by law) to neutralize and effectively eliminate chemical
				contamination.
(8) Rinsing after
				sanitizing is prohibited. To neutralize and effectively eliminate chemical
				contamination, the following guidelines must be used:
(A) All chemicals shall not exceed the
				manufacturer's recommended p.p.m.
(B) Caustic or alkaline washes shall be
				followed by an acid wash, followed by a rinse, followed by an appropriate
				sanitizer at the appropriate p.p.m.
(9) Organic milk may follow conventional milk
				as long as the first organic milk flushes the system to conventional
				channels.
(10) All regulatory
				sanitation requirements and quality standards for bacteria and somatic cell
				count (SCC) must be observed. In addition, the annual average SCC should not
				exceed four hundred thousand (400,000) for bovine (eight hundred thousand
				(800,000) for ovine or caprine) or local rules, whichever is lower; maximum
				bacteria count should not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) or local rules,
				whichever is lower. Individual animals are recommended to be on monthly SCC
				testing. Failure to comply with these quality levels will require a farm plan
				response to be implemented to come into compliance and be approved by the
				certifying agent.
(11) A new herd
				should have under a four hundred thousand (400,000) average SCC for the three
				(3) months prior to certifiable status.
(12) Dairy animals must drink water with
				nitrate levels below ten (10) mg nitrate, nitrogen/liter (forty-five (45) mg
				NO3/liter) and satisfy all state requirements concerning bacteria and other
				microlife. If a farmer is unable to meet these requirements, a farm plan
				response shall be implemented to reach compliance.
(13) Pullets must be fed one hundred percent
				(100%) certified organic feed for at least four (4) months before eggs are
				certifiable. When pullets are purchased, they must be treated in accordance
				with these standards for at least four (4) months before their eggs are
				certified.
(14) Hens must have at
				least two (2) square feet per bird floor space in the henhouse and hens must
				have outdoor access when seasonally appropriate.
(15) If access to pasture is not feasible,
				flocks must be fed sprouted grains or fresh plants or hay on a daily
				basis.
(16) Use of petroleum-based
				oil as a shell coating after washing is prohibited.