Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 15 - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › Subtitle 03 - WEIGHTS AND MEASURES › Chapter 15.03.05 - Receiving, Weighing, Sampling and Testing of Other Fluid Dairy Products › Section 15.03.05.05 - Samples

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Samples-General.
				The samples referred to in the Agriculture Article, §
									11-409, Annotated Code of
				Maryland, may be either fresh or time composite. Immediately before any sample
				is drawn from any container, the contents of the container from which it is
				drawn shall be thoroughly mixed for a minimum of 5 minutes. A weigh tank, farm
				milk tank, or other container from which a sample is to be drawn may not have
				any partition, division, or strainer which divides it, in any way, into more
				than one compartment. Each sample shall be put into a container of a type,
				labeled and stored in a manner, and at a temperature specified by the
				Secretary. Samples shall, at all times, be under the control of a person
				licensed as a weigher and sampler or as a weigher, sampler, and tester by the
				Secretary.
B. Sampling
				Procedures-Fresh Samples. When fresh samples (as opposed to time composite
				samples) are obtained for possible use as the basis of milk fat percentage
				determinations for producer payment, a representative sample shall be obtained
				and labeled in a manner approved by the Secretary. The representative sample
				will be drawn at the time milk is obtained from each producer's farm milk tank,
				but only by a person licensed under these regulations by the Secretary. A
				licensee will deliver the sample, with the producer's product, to the
				appropriate stationary receiving station.
C. Fresh Samples. When a permit holder or
				licensee uses fresh samples, a representative sample shall be tested at least 3
				times each month for each producer. The sample shall be tested within a period
				of 1 day after being drawn, if possible, but never later than 3 days after
				initially being obtained by a licensee. The residue of the representative
				sample shall be held on the premises where tested in a manner to maintain it
				suitable for any testing by the Secretary for an additional period of not less
				than 2 working days. Fresh representative samples shall be of such size that
				the residue, for any test by the Secretary, shall be sufficient to make two
				tests. Samples obtained from milk delivered on consecutive days may not be used
				for tests in determining producer payments.
D. Fresh Sample Bottles. The sample bottle
				type for fresh samples may be of a proper style with screw-type, well-fitting,
				impervious caps or other approved style. Each sample container shall be clearly
				and distinctly marked with the producer's name or number.
E. Care of Fresh Samples. Samples shall be
				maintained, at all times, in an upright position and shall be refrigerated at a
				temperature not in excess of 40°F or below a temperature which would result
				in freezing.
F. Sampling
				Procedures-Time Composite Samples. When using time composite samples as the
				basis of determination for producer payment, a representative fresh sample will
				be drawn at the time milk is obtained from each producer's farm milk tank and
				only by a person licensed by the Secretary in accordance with these
				regulations. A portion of the representative fresh sample shall be incorporated
				into an acceptable composite bottle and properly maintained at the appropriate
				stationary receiving station. The proportionate amount of the representative
				fresh sample incorporated into the composite bottle each day of shipment will
				be governed by the relative amount of milk shipped by the producer each day so
				that an accurate proportion will be established in the time composite
				sample.
G. Time Composite Samples.
				When using or developing time composite samples, a representative and correctly
				proportionate sample shall be taken from each delivery of each producer (as
				indicated in §F, above) and shall encompass a period of not more than 16
				days. The samples shall contain the correct amount and kind of preservative
				prescribed by the Secretary. The time encompassed by these composite samples
				shall be the same for all producers at the same stationary receiving station.
				All time composite samples shall be tested within 3 working days following the
				close of the period encompassed by the samples. After all time composite
				samples have been tested, their residue shall be held on the premises where
				tested and in a manner to maintain them suitable for testing by the Secretary.
				These samples shall be held and properly maintained for a period of not less
				than 7 days. Time composite samples shall be of such adequate size that the
				residue for testing by the Secretary shall be sufficient for two
				tests.
H. Bottles for Time
				Composite Samples. Bottles used for time composite samples shall be clearly
				labeled with the name or number of the producer. The label shall be permanently
				attached to the bottle, or to the stopper provided the stopper is permanently
				attached to the bottle. Attaching the stopper to the bottle by means of a chain
				or collar is acceptable. Whenever time composite samples are used, the
				composite bottle shall be of more than sufficient capacity to contain the total
				volume of the daily proportionate amount of representative samples for the
				maximum number of days encompassed by the time composite sample. The composite
				bottle shall be of a type that can be tightly stoppered so as to prevent
				evaporation or the entrance of water and may not contain a recessed pouring
				lip. Stoppers shall be of rubber, glass, or other approved nonabsorbent
				material. Cork may not be used.
I.
				Preservation of Time Composite Samples.
(1)
				Time composite samples shall be preserved with the recommended quantity of
				mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate) or another approved preservative. To
				aid in dissolving the preservative, necessarily used with a time composite
				sample, the sample shall be gently shaken or rotated when adding the first
				proportionate amount of the representative sample obtained from the
				producer.
(2) Thereafter, shaking
				will be avoided and held to a minimum upon the addition of the subsequent
				proportionate amounts of representative samples to prevent:
(a) Depositing cream on the walls of the
				container above the level of the sample; and
(b) Churning the sample.
(3) Since the addition of the preservative
				makes the milk somewhat more difficult to test, the tester should use
				additional precautions when testing preserved samples to insure proper test
				results.