Section 36. Drug residue monitoring, farm surveillance and follow up

A. Each grade A permit holder operating a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station shall:

1. Prior to processing any raw milk from bulk tanks on farms, test for residues of beta lactam drugs all raw milk that the milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station receives for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, aseptic processing and packaging, or retort processed after packaging;

2. Test each shipment of bulk tank raw milk or a raw milk supply that has not been transported in bulk milk pickup tankers received for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, aseptic processing and packaging, or retort processed after packaging by screening tests methods that have been Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) reviewed and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted. In lieu of any test specified in this subdivision a grade A permit holder may use AOAC first-action and AOAC final-action tests methods. Nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to require the testing of individual raw milk samples prior to processing collected from each grade A dairy farm included in any shipment of bulk tank raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, aseptic processing and packaging, or retort processed after packaging;

3. Implement a random-sampling program when the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration determines that a potential problem exists with animal drug residues or other contaminants in the milk supply. Each grade A permit holder operating a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station shall analyze the samples for the contaminant by a method determined by FDA to be effective in determining compliance with actionable levels or established tolerances. Each grade A permit holder operating a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station shall continue the random-sampling program until such time that the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration is reasonably assured that the problem has been corrected. The sampling program shall represent and include during any consecutive six months, at least four samples collected in at least four separate months, except when three months show a month containing two sampling dates separated by at least 20 days;

4. Retain each sample found to be positive for drug residues for a period of 120 hours after the sample test result is positive for drug residues for the use of the State Regulatory Authority unless directed otherwise by a representative of the State Regulatory Authority;

5. Abstain from selling or offering for sale any pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized, aseptically processed and packaged, or retort processed after packaged milk, milk product, or condensed and dry milk product processed from raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, aseptic processing and packaging, or retort processed after packaging before results of drug screening tests are available and which raw milk later tests positive for drug residues. All of the grade A permit holder's milk commingled with any raw milk that tests positive for drug residues shall be deemed adulterated. Any grade A permit holder operating a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station shall report to the State Regulatory Authority instances of adulteration immediately;

6. Record the results of tests on samples of raw milk and retain such records for a period of six months; report records of all results of tests on samples of raw milk to the State Regulatory Authority by the fifteenth day of each month for the preceding month; and maintain and make available to the State Regulatory Authority for inspection and review at the permitted facility records of results of tests on samples of raw milk. Each record of results of tests on samples of raw milk required by this subdivision shall include:

a. The analyst's signature, date, time, and place where the test was performed;

b. The registration identification of each pickup tanker of bulk raw milk or raw milk sampled;

c. The test method used;

d. The Interstate Milk Shipper Bulk Tank Unit identification number of each grade A milk supply included on each pickup tanker of bulk raw milk tested; and

e. A statement as to whether the test results were positive or negative. If the results were positive, the grade A permit holder shall also record:

(1) The identity of each producer contributing to the load from which the positive sample of raw milk was taken;

(2) The name of the person notified at the State Regulatory Authority of the positive test results;

(3) The date and time of day the person at the State Regulatory Authority was notified of the positive test results; and

(4) The method of notification of the State Regulatory Authority;

7. Immediately notify the State Regulatory Authority and the milk marketing cooperative or broker of any shipment of bulk tank raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, aseptic processing and packaging, or retort processed after packaging milk and milk products when the shipment of bulk tank raw milk is found to be positive for drug residues. Nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to include individual raw milk samples collected from each grade A dairy farm included in any shipment of bulk tank raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, aseptic processing and packaging, or retort processed after packaging milk and milk products;

8. Test each producer sample of raw milk to determine the farm of origin represented by any sample of raw milk that tests positive for drug residues and immediately report to the State Regulatory Authority the result of each producer sample representing the raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization, aseptic processing and packaging, or retort processed after packaging milk and milk products found to be positive for drug residues;

9. Provide by facsimile machine or other electronic means to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services copies of load manifests, producer weight tickets, laboratory worksheets where the results of laboratory tests are originally recorded, and records from electronic readers documenting the results for samples tested for all positive loads; and

10. Immediately discontinue receiving shipments of raw milk from the grade A permit holder whose milk tests positive for drug residues, until subsequent tests are no longer positive for drug residues.

B. Each grade A dairy farm permit holder's milk marketing cooperative or milk marketing agent shall be responsible for the collection and testing of follow-up milk samples for animal drug residues required for permit reinstatement and resumption of milk shipment from the dairy farm each time the grade A dairy farm permit holder's milk test positive for animal drug residues.

C. Each grade A dairy farm permit holder's milk marketing cooperative or milk marketing agent shall comply with the following when following up on a producer's dairy farm after a positive animal drug residue:

1. Only persons who hold valid permits to weigh, sample, and collect milk issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall collect and deliver follow-up milk samples to laboratories for official testing for the purpose of permit reinstatement and the resumption of milk shipments from the dairy farm;

2. Reports of laboratory testing shall be provided from officially designated laboratories for each milk sample tested for animal drug residues and shall include the following information:

a. The name of the grade A dairy farm permit holder;

b. The patron number of the grade A dairy farm permit holder;

c. The date, time, and temperature of the milk sample when collected;

d. The name of the person who collected the milk sample;

e. The name of the test method used to test the milk sample; and

f. The test result for the milk sample; and

3. Only confirmation test methods approved under M-I-96-10 (Revision #8) dated March 22, 2012, and titled "Drug Residue Test Methods for Confirmation of Presumptive Positive Results and Initial Producer Trace Back" may be used for follow-up milk sample testing.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 23, Issue 20, eff. May 23, 2007; amended, Volume 27, Issue 09, eff. December 10, 2010; Volume 31, Issue 12, eff. January 21, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 3.2-5206 of the Code of Virginia.