La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § VII-2907

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-2907 - Single Service Milk Container or Closure Manufacturing Plant Standards

A. Floors. The floor of all fabricating areas shall be smooth, impervious and maintained in a state of good repair. The floor of storage rooms may be constructed of tightly joined wood.

1. The joints between the walls and floor shall be tight, impervious and shall have coved or sealed joints.

2. Where floor drains are provided, they shall be properly trapped and floors sloped to drain.

B. Walls and Ceilings. Walls and ceilings of fabricating areas shall have a smooth, cleanable, light colored surface.

1. Walls and ceilings in fabricating and storage areas shall be kept in good repair.

C. Doors and Windows. All outside openings shall be effectively protected against entry of insects, dust and airborne contamination.

1. All outer doors shall be tight and self closing.

D. Lighting and Ventilation. All rooms shall be adequately lighted by either natural light, artificial light or both. A minimum of 20-foot candles shall be maintained in fabricating areas and 5-foot candles should be maintained in storage areas. Packaging, sealing, wrapping, labeling and similar procedures are considered part of the fabricating area.

1. Ventilation shall be sufficient to prevent excessive odors and the formation of excessive water condensation.

2. The intake of all pressure ventilation systems in fabricating areas, whether they are positive or exhaust, shall be properly filtered.

E. Separate Rooms. All fabricating areas shall be separate from non fabricating areas to protect against contamination, provided, that if the entire plant meets all sanitation requirements and no source of cross contamination exists, separation between areas is not required.

1. All re-grinding of plastic and the shredding, packaging or baling of paper trim shall be conducted in rooms separate from the fabricating room except that they may be conducted within the fabricating room provided such operations are kept clean and free of dust.

F. Toilet Facilities-Sewage Disposal. Disposal of sewage and other wastes shall be in a public sewerage system, if available. If a public sewerage system is not available, the disposal of sewage and other wastes shall be done in a manner which is in compliance with Part XIII of this Code.

1. All plumbing shall comply with Part XIV of this Code and any stricter local plumbing regulations.

2. Toilet rooms shall have solid, tight-fitting doors that are self-closing.

3. The toilet room and fixtures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and in good repair.

4. Each toilet room shall be well lighted and adequately ventilated by mechanical means. Air ventilation ducts from toilet facilities shall directly vent to the outside atmosphere.

5. Proper hand washing facilities with hot and cold running water under pressure delivered through a mixing faucet shall be provided in toilet rooms.

6. All windows shall be effectively screened when open.

7. Signs shall be posted in all toilet rooms informing the employees that they shall wash their hands before returning to work.

8. Eating or storage of food is prohibited in toilet rooms.

9. A covered trash container shall be provided.

G. Water Supply. The water supply shall comply with Part XII of this Code.

1. There shall be no cross-connection between the potable water supply and any unsafe or questionable water supply or any source of pollution through which the potable water supply might become contaminated.

2. Samples for bacteriological testing of private water supplies are taken upon the initial approval of the physical structure, each 12 months thereafter, and when any repair or alteration of the water supply system has been made. The examination of the sample shall be conducted by a laboratory which has been certified by the state health officer for the examination of potable water for bacteriological contaminants.

H. Hand Washing Facilities. Hot and cold or warm running water delivered under pressure through a mixing faucet, soap, air dryer or individual sanitary towels shall be convenient to all fabricating areas, provided that solvent or soft soap dispensers containing sanitizers may be used if water is not available. When individual sanitary towels are used, covered trash containers shall be provided.

1. Hand washing facilities shall be kept clean.

I. Plant Cleanliness. The floors, walls, ceilings, overhead beams, fixtures, pipes and ducts of production, storage, re-grind, baling and compacting rooms shall be clean.

1. All production areas, warehouse, toilet, lunch and locker rooms shall be free of evidence of insects, rodents and birds.

2. Machines and appurtenances shall be kept clean. Provided, that minor accumulations of paper, plastic or metal dust and other production soils incidental to normal fabricating operations do not violate this requirement.

J. Locker and Lunch Rooms. Locker and lunch rooms shall be separate from plant operations and be equipped with self closing doors.

1. Eating or storage of food is prohibited in fabricating and storage areas.

2. Locker and lunch rooms shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

3. Cleanable refuse containers, properly labeled, shall be provided which are covered, impervious, leak-proof and readily accessible.

4. Proper hand washing facilities shall be convenient to locker and lunch rooms.

5. Signs shall be posted informing employees that they shall wash their hands before returning to work.

K. Storage and Disposal of Wastes. All waste disposal shall be handled in accordance with Part XXVII of this Code.

1. All refuse and garbage shall be stored in covered, impervious and leak-proof containers. This requirement does not pertain to production scrap.

2. All waste containers shall be clearly labeled for their intended purpose and contents.

3. Where possible, garbage and assorted rubbish should be stored outside the building in covered, impervious, cleanable containers. If stored inside the building, it must be contained in similar receptacles, but in an area separate from fabricating areas.

L. Personal Cleanliness. Hands shall be thoroughly washed before commencing plant functions and as often as may be required to remove soil and contamination, and before returning to work after visiting the toilet room or lunch room.

1. All personnel shall wear clean outer garments and shall wear effective hair restraints, hair nets or caps. Shorts shall not be worn as outer garments.

2. No person affected with any disease in a communicable form or while a carrier of such disease, and no person with an infected cut or lesion shall work in any processing area in any capacity where there is a likelihood of such person contaminating product or product contact surfaces with pathogenic microorganisms.

3. The use of tobacco products is prohibited in fabricating, re-grind and storage areas.

M. Protection from Contamination. All product-contact surfaces of containers, closures and all materials in process are covered or otherwise protected to prevent the access of insects, dust, condensation and other contamination.

1. The manufacture of single service containers and closures for milk and milk products shall be conducted in such a manner that there will be no cross contamination of raw material or re-grind with non-food grade materials.

2. Whenever air under pressure is directed at resin. regrind, colorants and similar materials, it shall be free of oil, dust, rust, excessive moisture, extraneous materials and odor and shall otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of Appendix H of the PMO.

3. Air that is directed at product contact surfaces by fans or blowers shall be filtered and shall otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of Appendix H of the PMO.

4. Only pesticides approved for use in food plants and registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shall be used for insect and rodent control.

5. Pesticides shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's directions and used so as to preclude the contamination of containers or closures.

N. Storage of Materials and Finished Product. Blanks, roll stock and all other single service containers, closures and articles shall be stored off the floor by use of pallets, slip sheets or other methods and away from any wall a sufficient distance to facilitate inspection, cleaning and pest control activities. Any roll stock having dirty or soiled outer turns or edges shall have sufficient turns discarded prior to use and edges trimmed to provide protection from contamination.

1. Single service articles in process shall be protected from contamination by use of single service cover sheet or other protective device. This includes chip board, dividers, separators, bags and other items that can become contact surfaces.

2. Appropriate clean, dry storage facilities shall be provided for single service containers, closures, paper for wrapping, adhesives, blanks and other production material to provide protection from splash, insects, dust and other contamination.

3. Where containers and closures are preformed in plants other than the original fabricating facility:

a. containers, blanks and closures shall be stored in the original cartons and sealed until used;

b. partially used cartons of containers, blanks and closures shall be resealed until used.

4. Containers used for storage of resin and other raw materials, re-grind, broke and trim, intended for use in the process, shall be covered, clean, impervious and properly identified. Reuse of storage containers, such as gaylords, is permitted provided single-use plastic liners are used.

5. In process storage bins that touch the product contact surface of containers or closures shall be constructed of cleanable, nonabsorbent material and kept clean.

O. Fabricating, Processing and Packaging Equipment. The requirements of this Subsection pertain to all equipment and processes used in the fabrication of containers and closures irrespective of the materials used and whether or not mentioned herein. Some of this equipment includes grinders, rollers, reamers and cutters, molders and fittings, extruders, silos, resin bins and hoppers, printing equipment, blanking equipment and sealing equipment.

1. Rolls, dies, belts, tables, mandrels, transfer tubing and all other contact surfaces shall be kept clean, sanitary and reasonably free of accumulation of paper, plastic or metal dust and other production soils. Equipment designed for dairy plant use which is utilized for preforming containers shall be clean and sanitized prior to operation.

2. All materials in process for containers and closures shall be protected from contamination by condensate or drippage from overhead pipes or equipment components.

3. Makeshift devices such as tape, rope, twine, paperboards, etc., shall not be used. All fasteners, guides, hangers, supports and baffles shall be constructed of impervious, cleanable materials and kept in good repair.

4. Take off tables and other container contact surfaces shall be constructed of cleanable material, kept clean and in good repair.

5. All grinders, shredders and similar equipment used for re-grinding shall be installed above the floor or installed in such a manner that they are protected, so that floor sweepings and other contaminants cannot enter the grinder or shredder.

6. Storage tanks, silos, gaylords or bins used for plastic resin shall be so constructed to protect the resin from contamination. All air vents shall be filtered to prevent the entrance of dust or insects. Air tubes used to conduct resin shall be supported above ground to prevent their becoming submerged in water. Air tubes used to convey resin shall have end caps, attached by a chain or cable that prevent contamination. This Paragraph also applies to all raw materials handled in like manner.

7. Storage tanks, silos, etc., located outside of buildings shall have all outer openings locked or sealed at all times when not being filled, repaired or cleaned.

P. Equipment and Materials for Construction of Containers and Closures. Single service containers and closures for milk and milk products shall not be fabricated on equipment used for the manufacture of products made of non-food grade materials unless such equipment has been thoroughly cleaned and purged of all non-food grade material by a process that will not contaminate the food grade material.

1. Only plastic sheeting and extrusions, plastic laminated paper, metal and paperboard blanks, or combination thereof from a manufacturing or fabricating plant conforming with these standards shall be used. Fabricating plants listed in the current IMS publication of Certified Manufacturers of Single Service Containers and Closures for Milk and Milk Products shall be considered in compliance with this item.

2. Only sanitary, nontoxic lubricants shall be used on container closure contact surfaces. Excess lubricant shall be removed from surfaces close to shafts, rollers bearing sleeves and mandrels. These lubricants shall be handled and stored in a manner that will prevent cross contamination with non food grade lubricants. Such storage areas shall be clean and adequately ventilated.

3. Containers, resin and flashing on the floor and floor sweepings of production materials are prohibited from being reused. This shall not preclude the use of these materials when it complies with a protocol which has been reviewed and accepted by the FDA.

Q. Waxes, Adhesives, Sealants and Inks. Waxes, adhesives, sealants and inks used for containers and closures shall be handled and stored in a manner that will prevent cross contamination with similar non-food grade materials. Such storage areas shall be clean and adequately ventilated.

1. Waxing shall be performed so as to assure that containers or closures are completely coated and the wax shall be kept at temperature of 60 ° C (140 ° F) or higher.

2. Unused materials shall be covered and properly stored.

3. Waxes, adhesives, sealants and inks shall not impart odor or taste to the milk or milk products and shall not contaminate the product with microorganisms or toxic or injurious substances. All materials that are applied to the product contact surface shall comply with the requirements of Parts 175 through 178 of Title 21 of the CFR.

4. Transfer containers shall be kept clean and shall be properly identified and covered.

R. Handling of Containers and Equipment. Handling of containers and closure contact surfaces shall be kept to a minimum.

S. Wrapping and Shipping. Blanks, closures, halves, nested or preformed containers and parts such as valves, hoses, tubes and other fittings shall be properly packaged or containerized prior to shipping.

1. The outer package or containerized units shall protect the contents from dust and other contamination.

2. Transportation vehicles used to ship finished materials from the single service container and closure plant or within the plant shall be clean and in good repair and shall not have been used for the transportation of garbage, waste or toxic materials.

3. Paperboard containers, wrappers and dividers that contact the surface of the container or closure shall not be reused for this purpose.

4. All packaging materials that contact the product contact surface of the container or closure shall comply with the requirements of Parts 175 through 178 of Title 21 of the CFR and the bacteriological standards of §2905, but the material does not have to be manufactured at a listed single service plant. Some outer packaging material such as corrugated cardboard boxes used for the packaging of milk carton flats, are exempt from this bacteriological standard. The edges of these flats are subject to heat during the forming and sealing of the container.

T. Identification and Records. Outer wrappings shall be identified with the name and city of the plant where the contents are fabricated, except those manufactured in, and which are only for use in the same facility. In the cases where several plants are operated by one firm, the common firm name may be utilized, provided that the location of the plant at which the contents were fabricated is also shown either directly or by the FIPS numerical code on the outer wrapper.

1. Records of all required bacteriological tests of containers and closures shall be maintained at the plant of manufacture for two years and results shall be in compliance with §2905

2. The fabricating plant shall have on file information from suppliers of raw materials, waxes, adhesives, sealants, coating and inks indicating that the material complies with the requirements of Parts 175 through 178 of Title 21 of the CFR.

3. The fabricating plant shall have on file information from the suppliers of packaging materials specified in Paragraph 3 of this Subsection indicating that the material complies with the bacteriological standards of §2905. There are no specifications for sampling frequency. The state health officer may choose to collect samples of packaging materials to determine compliance with bacteriological standards of this Part.

4. Multi plant corporations may have all required information at a central location as long as it can be transmitted to the site upon request.

U. Surroundings. Exterior surroundings shall be neat and clean and free from conditions which might attract or harbor flies, other insects and rodents.

1. Driveways, lanes and areas serving the plant vehicular traffic are graded, drained and free from pools of standing water.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § VII-2907

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 37:2724 (September 2011).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:4(A)(1)(a). Also see R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(5)(7) (15)(17) and R.S. 40:922.