(a) Transport tank unloading station.
- (1) When the transport tank unloading station is a receiving station or a milk processing plant, it shall comply with the following items of Part II of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance: items 1p to 15p inclusive, and 17p, 20p, and 22p, except that the partitioning requirement of item 5p shall not apply.
- (2) When the unloading station is a transfer station, it shall comply with the following items of Part II of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance: items 1p, 4p, 6p, 7p, 8p, 9p, 10p, 11p, 12p, 14p, 15p, 20p, and 22p; and as climatic and operating conditions require, the applicable provisions of items 2p and 3p; provided, however, that in every case overhead protection shall be provided. Facilities for the cleaning and sanitizing of milk tank trucks shall comply with items 1p, 4p, 6p, 7p, 8p, 9p, 10p, 11p, 12p, 14p, 15p, 20p, and 22p of the ordinance; and as climatic and operating conditions require, the applicable provisions of items 2p and 3p; provided, however, that in every case, overhead protection shall be provided.
- (3) The pump-out of the transport tank shall be done in an area where a cover extends over the complete transport tank or, where climatic and operating conditions require, in a completely enclosed area. Pump-out operations must be protected in such a manner as to prevent product contamination. If the area is not completely enclosed or doors of the unloading area are open during unloading, a suitable filter is required for the manhole or the air inlet vent.
- (4) The agitating and sampling of the transport tank milk shall be accomplished in such a manner as to provide maximum protection against product contamination. The unloading station shall provide the necessary equipment to adequately agitate the milk in the transport tank. In no instance shall this be done at a place other than an approved unloading station.
(5) The unloading station shall record the following information on each load of milk received, and maintain these records for a period of not less than 90 days;
- (A) date the load was received;
- (B) time received;
- (C) number of pounds in the load;
- (D) temperature of the milk;
- (E) the permit number of the truck delivering the milk;
- (F) the name of the station operator receiving the milk; and
- (G) the manifest with the driver's license number of sample collector.
- (6) The transport tank cleaning tag must be removed and kept with the other records for a period of 15 days.
- (7) In no case shall milk be received from a transport tank that appears to be damaged, dirty, or does not have a current cleaning tag without the permission of the department.
(b) Transport tank washing station.
- (1) It shall be the responsibility of each transport tank unloading station to provide a transport tank washing station. The transport tank washing station may be an integral part of the unloading station or a separate facility. When the transport tank washing station is a separate facility, it shall be located convenient to and in the proximity of the unloading station.
- (2) The transport tank washing station shall comply with the following items of Part II, the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance: items 1p, 4p, 6p, 7p, 8p, 9p, 10p, 11p, 12p, 14p, 15p, 20p, and 22p, and as climatic and operating conditions require, the applicable provisions of items 2p and 3p; provided, however, that in every case, overhead protection shall be provided.
(3) An unloading station which receives milk in transport tanks equipped with permanently installed tank washers will provide a transport tank washing station equipped with the following:
- (A) adequate water heating facilities;
- (B) tanks of an adequate size to hold the rinse, wash, and sanitizing solution;
- (C) a wash pump which will deliver the cleaning and sanitizing solutions to the milk contact surface of the transport tank at an adequate rate and velocity. This pump should deliver a minimum of 140 gallons per minute with a pressure of 50 pounds per square inch at the pumphead;
- (D) a removal pump which will remove rinse and cleaning solutions from the transport tank as fast as such solutions are pumped into the transport tank;
- (E) a screening device, which will prevent the passage of any foreign material into the system that would adversely affect the performance of the spray device(s), and located so as to be easily cleaned and sanitized;
- (F) a temperature recorder which meets the applicable requirements of Appendix H of the most current revision of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. In addition, a pressure recorder shall be provided. These may be an integral unit or in two separate units. The temperature sensor shall be located in the return solution line. The pressure sensor shall be located in the solution-rinse line downstream from the pressure supply pump. Recording charts shall be properly identified (showing date, permit number of transportation tank cleaned, operator's initials, etc.) and kept on file for not less than 90 days;
(G) the necessary equipment for the cleaning of transport tank pumps, gaskets, hoses, etc., which do not clean in place. Equipment shall be provided to clean the hoses by circulation of cleaning solution in conjunction with the clean-out-of-place (COP) vat that is equipped with a temperature recorded which meets the applicable requirements of Appendix H of the most current revision of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance; however, if an integrated clean-in-place (CIP) system designed to clean transport tanker, milk pumps, gaskets, hoses and appurtenances, by circulation is provided, the following criteria must be met:
- (i) a temperature recorder that complies with the applicable requirements of Appendix H of the most current revision of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and a pressure recorder shall be provided;
- (ii) the extended tube holder for cleaning milk hoses and receiving hoses shall be of adequate length to accommodate hoses of 35 feet maximum length;
- (iii) the CIP system shall provide a cleaning regimen for a prerinse, wash, post-rinse and sanitizing of the transport tanker, milk pumps, gaskets, hoses, receiving hose and appurtenances;
- (iv) the CIP system shall be capable of a minimum wash temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit and minimum circulation flow rate of five feet per second; and
- (v) all equipment and utensils shall be in compliance with the standards outlined in the current edition of the 3-A Sanitary Standards at the time of installation;
- (H) all equipment and utensils must be in compliance with the current edition of the 3-A Sanitary Standards at the time of installation;
- (I) cleaning regimen established and posted in the transport tank washing area. This regimen shall provide for a prerinse, wash, post-rinse, and sanitizing of the transport tank. The wash solution must have a minimum temperature in the return line of 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
- (4) The Texas Department of Health may permit an unloading station to utilize a transport tank washing station equipped only with portable tank washing equipment (drop in washers) or with the equipment and personnel necessary for hand cleaning, providing they can demonstrate the capability of effectively cleaning and sanitizing the transport tanks. In no case will transport tanks equipped with installed tank washers be unloaded into these unloading stations without the permission of the department. This permission will be granted only in emergency situations. When the transport tank washing station utilizes a drop in unit, paragraph (3)(A), (B), and (D)-(I) of this subsection will apply.
- (5) The milk transport tank shall be adequately cleaned immediately after unloading so as to pass inspection at all times.
- (6) The transportation tank and appurtenances shall be sanitized immediately after washing with an approved acid sanitizer or any other approved noncorrosive sanitizer. The transport tank shall be sanitized by pumping the sanitizing solution through the wash-rinse system. When a transport tank is taken out of service for more than two days, it shall be sanitized again before it is used.
(7) All milk transport tanks shall be tagged after each cleaning and sanitizing. This tag shall remain attached to the transport tank until the milk is unloaded at the unloading station. The tag shall bear the following information:
- (A) the transport tank permit number;
- (B) the date and time it was cleaned and sanitized;
- (C) the name and location of the cleaning station; and
- (D) the name of the person who cleaned and sanitized the transport tank.
Source Note:The provisions of this §217.24 adopted to be effective October 16, 1986, 11 TexReg 4156.