Section 131. HACCP program participation voluntary

Part XI. Voluntary HACCP Program

Article 1. Program Participation

A. Participation in the HACCP program is voluntary for each person who operates a dairy plant, receiving station, or transfer station and the State Regulatory Authority responsible for the permitting and auditing of each person's dairy plant, receiving station, or transfer station. No person operating a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station may participate in the voluntary HACCP program unless the State Regulatory Agency responsible for the permitting and auditing of each person's dairy plant agrees to participate in the voluntary HACCP program also.

B. Each person volunteering to operate his milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station under the voluntary HACCP program shall provide a written commitment to the State Regulatory Authority responsible for his milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station that he will supply the necessary resources to support participation in the voluntary HACCP program.

C. Each State Regulatory Authority volunteering to participate in the voluntary HACCP program shall provide a written commitment to the person requesting to operate a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station under the voluntary HACCP program that the State Regulatory Authority will supply the necessary resources to support participation in the voluntary HACCP program.

D. Each person operating a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station and participating in the voluntary HACCP program shall have a minimum of 60 days of HACCP system records prior to a HACCP listing audit. Each milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station shall be inspected and permitted initially by the State Regulatory Authority and shall be regulated initially under the requirements of this chapter without taking into consideration the provisions of this part until the State Regulatory Authority conducts an acceptable HACCP listing audit documenting the successful implementation of a fully functioning HACCP system in the person's milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station.

E. Each person operating a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station and participating in the voluntary HACCP program shall:

1. Comply with all of the provisions applicable to the voluntary HACCP program contained in the "Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, 2013 Revision" to include:

a. Section 7;

b. Items 16p, 16p(A), 16p(B), 16p(C), and 16p(D);

c. Section 13;

d. Section 14;

e. Appendix H;

f. Appendix I;

g. Appendix K;

h. Appendix R; and

i. Appendix S.

2. Prepare their HACCP plan based on the following HACCP principles:

a. Conduct a hazard analysis;

b. Determine the critical control points;

c. Establish critical limits;

d. Establish monitoring procedures;

e. Establish corrective actions;

f. Establish verification procedures; and

g. Establish recordkeeping and documentation procedures;

3. Prior to the implementation of a HACCP plan develop, document, and successfully implement written prerequisite programs that provide the basic environment and operating conditions that are necessary for the production of safe, wholesome food.

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.