Regulation 16 Cleaning and disinfecting of containers, plant, milk tankers and equipment

(1)

Every dairyman or milk carrier shall ensure that such parts of any container, plant, milk tanker or equipment as have been in contact with milk are–

(a)

immediately aft er use, thoroughly rinsed with clean water and thereafter cleaned with a detergent solution; and

(b)

before such container, plant, milk tanker or equipment is used, disinfected–

(i)

by steam; or

(ii)

by water at a temperature of not less than 82°C; or

(iii)

by a solution containing a bactericidal agent, followed by thorough rinsing with water to which a sodium hypochlorite solution has been added at the rate of 25ml to 40 litres,

at least once in every day on which the containers, plant, milk tankers and equipment are used and as soon after each occasion on which the containers, plant, milk tankers and equipment have come into contact with milk (being milk which the aforesaid person has reason to believe is tainted or otherwise contaminated) as is practicable.

(2)

Any person who consigns milk in bulk by rail in a milk tanker shall, before he transfers any supply of milk to the container of the milk tanker, clean the inner surfaces of such container with a warm solution of a suitable detergent and thereafter disinfect such surfaces by steam or by water at a temperature of not less than 82°C or by a solution containing a bactericidal agent.

(3)

Any person to whom milk has been consigned in bulk by rail in a milk tanker shall–

(a)

thoroughly rinse with clean water the inner surfaces of the container of such milk tanker as soon as is practicable after the container is emptied of milk; and

(b)

as soon as is practicable thereafter clean the inner surfaces of the container with a solution of a suitable detergent and thereafter disinfect such surfaces by steam or by water at a temperature of not less than 82°C or by a solution containing a bactericidal agent.

(4)

Any person engaged in the conveyance of milk in bulk by road in a milk tanker and any person who consigns milk in bulk by rail in a milk tanker shall ensure that the container of such milk tanker is free from all detectable traces of detergent or bactericidal agent.

(5)

Every dairyman or milk carrier shall ensure that–

(a)

the place used for the purposes of cleaning and disinfecting shall be one which prevents so far as is reasonably practicable the risk of contamination of all such containers, plant, milk tankers and equipment;

(b)

after having been cleaned and disinfected, all such containers, plant, milk tankers and equipment are stored before use in a clean place and protected from risk of contamination; and

(c)

immediately before use all such containers, plant, milk tankers and equipment which come into contact or are likely to come into contact with milk shall be in a state of thorough cleanliness.

(6)

Every dairyman or milk carrier having the management and control of dairy premises shall provide adequate facilities for the rinsing, cleaning and disinfecting of containers, plant, containers of milk tankers and equipment at such premises.