Section 20. Intent, scope, and interpretation

A. The Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services hereby finds that a uniform regulation is needed to govern the cooling or storage of milk on Virginia dairy farms; the sampling of milk in storage and the handling of milk samples from the dairy farm to the laboratory; the hauling, transferring, storage, handling, and delivery of milk from the farm to the processing plant; the hauling, transferring, handling, and delivery of milk, milk products, and dairy products between one milk plant and another; and the handling and testing of milk, milk product, and dairy product samples in laboratories if the test results will be used as a basis for payment. This chapter shall be applicable throughout the Commonwealth, shall be enforced on a statewide basis, and shall regulate all milk, milk products, and dairy products produced on Virginia dairy farms or moved between milk plants.

B. Unless otherwise provided by state law or regulations of the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, this chapter shall be interpreted and enforced by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In the interest of the consumer and to facilitate the orderly marketing of milk, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services may establish, publish, and enforce interpretations of this chapter.

C. This chapter defines milk cooling or storage tanks, pay purpose laboratories, dairy farms, plants, etc.; sets forth permit requirements, milkhouse and associated facilities required; construction, location and operation of milk cooling or storage tanks; establishes minimum cooling and storage requirements for milk on the farm and in transport; sampling and measuring of milk produced and sold from dairy farms; and facilities and operations required in hauling milk from the farm to the processing plant.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 21, Issue 08, eff. January 26, 2005.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.2-5206, 3.2-5223, and 3.2-5224 of the Code of Virginia.