Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 10 - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › Part 3 › Subtitle 15 - FOOD › Chapter 10.15.08 - Farmstead Cheese Program › Section 10.15.08.02 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. In this chapter,
				  the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
(1) "Aging of cheese" means the storing and
				  maturing of cheese under controlled conditions of temperature and
				  humidity.
(2) "Aging period" means
				  the aging of raw milk cheese for at least 60 calendar days at a temperature of
				  not less than 35°F.
(3) "Aging
				  room" means the area where the aging of cheese takes place.
(4) "Dairy farm" means a place or premises:
(a) Where one or more lactating animals,
				  including cows, goats, sheep, water buffaloes, or other hooved mammals, are
				  kept for milking purposes; and
(b)
				  From which the milk is sold or offered for sale.
(5) "Department" means the Department of
				  Health and Mental Hygiene.
(6)
				  "Departmental inspection area" means the area in which the Department routinely
				  makes inspections under Health-General Article, Title 21, Subtitle 4, Annotated
				  Code of Maryland.
(7) "Drug
				  residue" means a substance that prevents the growth of bacteria in milk
				  products.
(8) "Farmstead cheese"
				  means a cheese made on a dairy farm:
(a) Using
				  only the raw milk produced by the herd or flock on the dairy farm;
				  and
(b) That meets the definitions
				  and standards of a hard cheese, as set forth in 21 CFR Part 133.
(9) "Industry plant sampler"
				  means:
(a) An individual responsible for the
				  collection of official samples for regulatory purposes at a plant as outlined
				  in the Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, Appendix N; and
(b) An employee of the plant who is evaluated
				  a least once every 2-year period by a sampling surveillance officer or a
				  properly delegated sampling surveillance official.
(10) "Milk" means the milk of a cow, goat, or
				  other hooved mammals.
(11)
				  "Official laboratory" means a laboratory that is a biological, chemical, or
				  physical laboratory, which is under the direct supervision of the
				  Department.
(12) "Officially
				  designated laboratory" means a laboratory that is a:
(a) Commercial laboratory authorized to do
				  official work by the Department; or
(b) Milk industry laboratory officially
				  designated by the Department for the examination of producer samples of raw
				  milk for drug residue.
(13) "Plant" means any place, premise, or
				  establishment where milk or milk products are collected, handled, processed,
				  stored, packaged or otherwise prepared for distribution as a farmstead
				  cheese.
(14) "Raw milk" means
				  unpasteurized milk.
(15)
				  "Sanitation inspection" means an evaluation of the milk plant and associated
				  processes in accordance with this chapter.
(16) "Sanitization" means:
(a) The application of any effective method
				  or substance to properly clean surfaces for the destruction of pathogens and
				  other microorganisms, as far as is practicable; and
(b) A treatment that:
(i) Does not adversely affect the equipment,
				  the milk, milk product, or the health of consumers; and
(ii) Is acceptable to the
				  Department.