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Collection of milk not intended for supply: Information Pamphlet

Animal Products Act 1999

September 2008

With all the best intentions in the world there may still be occasions, particularly early in the season, when milk not intended for supply is inadvertently collected.

The Animal Products Act 1999 (APA) and the standards under the APA are quite clear that such milk is nonconforming and all milk, dairy material or dairy product that it is added to is non-conforming. Risk management programme (RMP) operators are reminded of their obligations to raise an exception report when such events occur, and to identify any affected product in accordance with the applicable RMP(s).

The following is provided to assist in clarifying the nature of information required in situations of unintentional collection. There may well be other (very rare) situations that fall outside those anticipated which would require additional information and would need to be considered in light of the full circumstances, but typically the following will suffice.

Farm Dairy Operator to confirm:

i. the nature of all milk in the bulk tank at the time of collection, including anything other than milk that may be been added, including:

a. withheld colostrum,

b. abnormal milk, such as milk withheld from mastitic glands,

c. milk withheld from unhealthy animals (and if so describe the conditions),

d. milk from animals treated with veterinary medicines (including dry cow treatments and treatments during the dry period),

e. milk withheld for other reasons,

f. any preservative or other material added;

ii. the manner in which the milk was harvested (e.g. was it harvested under the same conditions as normal milkings);

iii. filtering, cooling (primary and secondary) and storage;

iv. age of the milk;

v. whether the dairy material has come into contact with any unapproved or unhygienic equipment;

vi. last time the bulk tank was given a complete clean;

vii. their opinion (and that of their staff) with respect to the condition of the milk; and

viii. the circumstances that led to the collection.

The farm dairy operator must be made aware that the information provided must be complete and accurate.

RMP Operator to confirm, with respect to the farm:

i. the circumstances that led to collection of the non-conforming milk;

ii. any failure to follow instructions or procedures set out under the RMP; and

iii. corrective actions to be taken.

RMP Operator to confirm, with respect to the milk:

i. residue status via inhibitory substances testing of the supply, milk in the tanker or product;

ii. possible colostrum status via IgG₁ testing of the supply, milk in the tanker or product;

iii. acidity and organoleptic (senses) assessment of the supply or milk in the tanker;

iv. the extent of consolidation that occurred before manufacture commenced;

v. results from all testing of the supply or milk in the tanker; and

vi. all other relevant information required as per the RMP.

In situations where details of the milk condition is not known (that is, points i to v above) this should be noted.

Raising an exception

For situations where the milk passes through the coverage of multiple RMP’s but remains under the control of the same business entity then only one exception needs to be raised.

Disclaimer:

This publication is not a legal interpretation of the Animal Products Act or the Animal Products (Ancillary and Transitional Provisions) Act and is intended only as a guide.