Section 33. Written warning and suspension notices for violations of quality standards; required procedures

A. Whenever two of the last four consecutive cooling temperature checks, bacteria counts, or somatic cell counts taken on separate days for a grade A dairy farm permit holder exceed the standard established for grade A raw milk, the State Regulatory Agency shall send a written warning notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The warning notice shall inform the permit holder or his representative (i) concerning which quality standards the permit holder has violated; (ii) that another sample will be collected within 21 days to determine compliance with the requirements; and (iii) that the permit holder's grade A dairy farm permit will be suspended whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks, bacteria counts, or somatic cell counts exceed the standards. The warning notice shall be in effect so long as two out of the last four consecutive samples exceed the standard for grade A raw milk. An additional sample shall be collected to determine compliance with the standards for grade A raw milk within 21 days after sending the warning notice, but not before the lapse of three days.

B. Whenever two of the last four consecutive cooling temperature checks or bacteria counts taken on separate days from a grade A permit holder's dairy plant exceed the standard established for commingled grade A raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, or aseptically processed and packaged milk or milk product, the State Regulatory Agency shall send a written warning notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The warning notice shall inform the permit holder or his representative (i) concerning which quality standards the permit holder has violated; (ii) that another sample will be collected within 21 days to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter; and (iii) that the permit holder's grade A permit will be suspended whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks or bacteria counts exceed the quality standards. The warning notice shall be in effect so long as two out of the last four consecutive samples exceed the standard for grade A commingled raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, or aseptically processed and packaged milk or milk product. An additional sample shall be collected to determine compliance with the standards for grade A raw milk within 21 days after sending the warning notice, but not before the lapse of three days.

C. Whenever two of the last four consecutive cooling temperature checks, bacteria counts, or coliform counts taken on separate days from a grade A permit holder's dairy plant exceed the standard established for grade A pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk or milk products in retail containers, the State Regulatory Agency shall send a written warning notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The warning notice shall inform the permit holder or his representative (i) concerning which quality standards the permit holder has violated for each grade A pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk or milk product in retail containers; (ii) that another sample will be collected within 21 days to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter; and (iii) that the permit holder's grade A pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk or milk product in retail containers will be suspended from sale whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks, bacteria counts, or coliform counts exceed the quality standards. The warning notice shall be in effect so long as two out of the last four consecutive samples exceed the standard for grade A pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk or milk products in retail containers. An additional sample shall be collected to determine compliance with the standards for grade A raw milk within 21 days after sending the warning notice, but not before the lapse of three days.

D. Whenever two of the last four consecutive cooling temperature checks or bacteria counts taken on separate days from a grade A permit holder's dairy plant exceed the standard established for grade A bulk shipped heat-treated milk products, the State Regulatory Agency shall send a written warning notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The warning notice shall inform the permit holder or his representative (i) concerning which quality standards the permit holder has violated for each grade A bulk shipped heat-treated milk product; (ii) that another sample will be collected within 21 days to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter; and (iii) that the permit holder's grade A permit will be suspended whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks or bacteria counts exceed the quality standards. The warning notice shall be in effect so long as two out of the last four consecutive samples exceed the standard for grade A bulk shipped heat-treated milk products. An additional sample shall be collected to determine compliance with the standards for grade A raw milk within 21 days after sending the warning notice, but not before the lapse of three days.

E. Whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks, bacteria counts, or somatic cell counts taken on separate days for a grade A dairy farm permit holder exceed the standard established for grade A raw milk, the State Regulatory Agency shall send a written suspension notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The suspension notice shall inform the grade A dairy farm permit holder (i) why the permit holder's grade A permit is being suspended; (ii) that he will be contacted by the State Regulatory Authority to establish a date on which the suspension of his permit will be effective; and (iii) that his grade A permit will not be reinstated until laboratory analysis determine that his raw milk is in compliance with the quality standards.

F. Whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks or bacteria counts taken on separate days from a grade A permit holder's dairy plant exceed the standard established for commingled grade A raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, or aseptically processed milk or milk products, the State Regulatory Authority shall send a written suspension notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The suspension notice shall inform the grade A dairy plant permit holder that (i) the permit holder's grade A dairy plant permit is suspended and (ii) should the grade A dairy plant permit holder desire to have his grade A dairy plant permit reinstated, he must make his request in writing to the State Regulatory Authority detailing the actions he has taken and will take to avoid violating the standard he exceeded for commingled grade A raw milk in the future, establishing a date and time by which these actions will be fully implemented and stating the reasons why his request should be granted.

G. Whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks, bacteria counts, or coliform counts taken on separate days from a grade A permit holder's dairy plant exceed the standard established for grade A pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk or milk products in retail containers, the State Regulatory Authority shall send a written suspension notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The suspension notice shall inform the grade A dairy plant permit holder (i) that the pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk and dairy products in violation of the quality standard are suspended from sale; (ii) why the pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk and dairy products are suspended from sale; (iii) that the permit holder must contact the State Regulatory Authority when corrections have been made to bring his pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk and milk products into compliance before any action will be taken to reinstate sales of his suspended pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk and milk products; and (iv) that his pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk and milk products will not be reinstated for sale until laboratory analysis determine that the pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized milk and milk products are in compliance with the quality standards.

H. Whenever three out of the last five consecutive cooling temperature checks or bacteria counts taken on separate days from a grade A permit holder's dairy plant exceed the standard established for grade A bulk shipped heat-treated milk products, the State Regulatory Authority shall send a written suspension notice to the permit holder or to the person identified by the permit holder to receive sample reports and official correspondence. The suspension notice shall inform the grade A dairy plant permit holder that (i) the permit holder's grade A dairy plant permit is suspended and (ii) should the grade A dairy plant permit holder desire to have his grade A dairy plant permit reinstated, he must make his request in writing to the State Regulatory Authority detailing the actions he has taken and will take to avoid violating the standard he exceeded for grade A bulk shipped heat-treated milk products in the future, establishing a date and time by which these actions will be fully implemented and stating the reasons why his request should be granted.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 23, Issue 20, eff. May 23, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 12, eff. January 21, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 3.2-5206 of the Code of Virginia.