Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection › ATCP 55-89 - Food, Lodging, and Recreation Safety › Chapter ATCP 65 - Milk And Milk Products › Subchapter II - Dairy Farms › Section ATCP 65.08 - Milkhouse

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) REQUIREMENT. Every dairy farm shall have
				  a milkhouse. Except as provided in s.
				  ATCP
				  65.16(5), a milk producer shall cool
				  and store milk in the milkhouse. A milkhouse shall be separate from a milking
				  barn or parlor, but may share common walls with a milking barn or parlor. All
				  milking equipment and utensils shall be cleaned, sanitized and stored in the
				  milkhouse, except for C-I-P milk pipelines that are mechanically cleaned in
				  place in a milking barn or parlor, or C-I-P milking equipment that is
				  mechanically cleaned and stored in a milking parlor under s.
				  ATCP 65.06(10)
				  (a).
(2) ACCESS TO MILKHOUSE. Every access
				  driveway and every exterior access door to the milkhouse shall be located in
				  such a manner that no vehicle or a person traveling to the milkhouse must pass
				  through an animal walkway, holding area, or yard where excessive animal waste
				  may accumulate on the ground near these access areas.
(3) CONSTRUCTION.
(a)
Floors.
A milkhouse
				  floor shall be constructed of concrete or one or more other impervious
				  materials, and shall be easily cleanable. This requirement does not prohibit
				  construction with anti-slip floor surfaces that are easily cleanable. The floor
				  shall be sloped for drainage to a floor drain. Floor drains shall be readily
				  accessible. A floor drain shall be equipped with a trap if the floor drain is
				  connected to a sanitary sewer system.
(b)
Walls and ceilings.
Milkhouse walls and ceilings shall be constructed and finished so that they are
				  impervious to water, are light colored, and are easily cleanable.
(c)
Doors and windows.
A
				  milkhouse shall not open directly into a barn, stable or milking parlor, or
				  into a room not used for the operation of the dairy farm unless the opening is
				  equipped with a tight-fitting, self-closing and solid door. All milkhouse
				  external openings shall be screened or otherwise protected against entry of
				  insects, rodents, or other pests. External doors and windows shall be
				  tight-fitting and shall be kept closed during dusty conditions. External doors
				  shall be self-closing. All swinging screen doors on the milkhouse shall open
				  outward.
(d)
Lighting.
Natural or artificial lighting, or both, shall be
				  provided in a milkhouse to ensure adequate illumination for daytime and
				  nighttime operations. There shall be at least 30 foot-candles of illumination
				  in all working areas of the milkhouse. Artificial lights located over a bulk
				  tank shall be shatterproof or shielded to protect milk from contamination with
				  broken glass.
(e)
Ventilation.
Ventilation in a milkhouse shall be adequate to
				  minimize odors and to prevent visible condensation on floors, walls, ceilings,
				  clean equipment, and clean utensils. Vents shall be screened and shall be
				  located and maintained to prevent contamination of bulk tanks or clean
				  equipment and utensils. Exhaust fans shall be screened or louvered to prevent
				  entry of pests when not in operation. Ventilation in an AMI room shall be
				  sufficient to minimize odors from any nearby manure storage.
(f)
Water heating capacity.
Hot water capacity shall be adequate for all milkhouse operations. Hot water
				  heaters or hot water supply systems shall have a capacity of at least 10
				  gallons for washing equipment and utensils. The division may authorize
				  alternative systems, including heat recovery and continuous flow systems that
				  provide adequate hot water for all milkhouse operations. Authorization shall be
				  in writing and valid for 5 years. Re-authorization for each subsequent 5-year
				  period shall be obtained in writing from the division.
(g)
Wash and rinse vat.
A
				  milkhouse shall be equipped with a 2-compartment wash and rinse vat for
				  cleaning equipment and utensils. The vat shall be served by potable hot and
				  cold running water from a faucet or faucets located directly over the vat.
				  Water shall enter and leave the vat by means that preclude splashing. A vat
				  designed to hold cleaning or sanitizing solutions drawn through C-I-P milking
				  equipment may serve as one compartment of a two-compartment wash and rinse vat
				  under this paragraph, provided that the C-I-P inflation rack and all C-I-P
				  milking equipment are completely removed from the vat while other equipment and
				  utensils are being washed, rinsed, and sanitized in the vat. This paragraph
				  shall apply to an AMI for which manual cleaning and sanitizing of AMI
				  components must be done on a routine basis.
(h)
Handwashing facility.
A
				  milkhouse shall be equipped with a fixed hand washing facility that is separate
				  from the wash and rinse vat under par. (g). The hand washing facility shall be
				  served by potable hot and cold running water from a faucet or faucets located
				  directly over the facility. Water shall enter and leave the handwashing
				  facility by means that preclude splashing. Soap and single service sanitary
				  towels or another approved means of drying hands shall be available at all
				  times for use at the hand washing facility. A hand washing facility may be
				  located in a room immediately adjacent to the milkhouse, provided that it is
				  readily accessible from the milkhouse. This paragraph applies to an AMI room in
				  which the operator's hands will contact milk filters or other milk contact
				  surfaces. This paragraph does not apply to licensed milk producers who do not
				  hold a grade A producer permit but operate a dairy farm on which the currently
				  used bulk tank was installed before January 1, 1979, or on which milk is stored
				  and cooled only in cans.
(i)
Bulk tank hose port.
If a bulk tank is used to receive and
				  hold milk in a milkhouse, the milkhouse shall have a hose port opening in the
				  outside wall to permit the removal of milk from the bulk tank. The hose port
				  opening shall be at least 6 inches above the floor of the milkhouse, and shall
				  be equipped with a tight-fitting door that shall be kept closed except when the
				  hose port is in use. A paved surface of concrete or other readily cleanable
				  material shall be installed adjacent to the outside wall of the milkhouse,
				  immediately under the bulk tank hose port. The paved surface shall be at least
				  a 4 foot by 4 foot square and shall cover as much additional ground area as is
				  necessary to protect the milk hose from ground contamination.