Section 26-2-459 - Sanitation requirementsAll Grade "A" raw milk for human consumption shall be produced to conform with the following sanitation requirements of this Code section:
(1) Lactating animals which show evidence of the secretion of milk with abnormalities in one or more quarters, based upon bacteriological, chemical, or physical examination, shall be milked last or with separate equipment and the milk shall be discarded;(2) Lactating animals that have been treated with, or have consumed, chemical, medicinal or radioactive agents, which are capable of being secreted in the milk and which, in the judgment of the department, may be deleterious to human health, shall be milked last or with separate equipment and the milk disposed of as the department may direct;(3) Milk from lactating animals being treated with medicinal agents, which are capable of being secreted in the milk, shall not be offered for sale for such period as is recommended by the attending veterinarian or as indicated on the package label of the medicinal agent;(4) Milk from lactating animals treated with or exposed to insecticides not approved for use on dairy animals by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shall not be offered for sale;(5) The department may require additional tests for the detection of milk with abnormalities as it deems necessary;(6) Bloody, stringy, off-colored milk, or milk that is abnormal to sight or odor shall be handled and disposed of as to preclude the infection of other lactating animals and the contamination of milk utensils;(7) Lactating animals secreting milk with abnormalities shall be milked last or in separate equipment which effectively prevents the contamination of the wholesome supply. Milking equipment used on animals with abnormalities in their milk shall be maintained clean to reduce the possibility of re-infecting or cross-infection of the dairy animals;(8) Equipment, utensils, and containers used for the handling of milk with abnormalities shall not be used for the handling of milk to be offered for sale, unless they are first cleaned and effectively sanitized;(9) Processed animal waste derivatives used as a feed ingredient for any portion of the total ration of the lactating dairy animal shall:(A) Be properly processed in accordance with at least those requirements contained in the Model Regulations for Processed Animal Wastes developed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials; and(B) Not contain levels of deleterious substances, harmful pathogenic organisms, or other toxic substances which are secreted in the milk at any level that may be deleterious to human health; and(10) Unprocessed poultry litter and unprocessed recycled animal body discharges shall not be fed to lactating dairy animals.Added by 2022 Ga. Laws 879,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2023.