The BC Ministry of Agriculture has alerted us of the following changes to the Milk Inspection Regulations, effective February 1st, 2012:

• Lowering of the SCC violation level from  500,000 to 400,000
• Raising of the added water violation level from ≤ 0.535 Hortvet (1.8% dilution) to  ≤0.525 Hortvet (3.7% dilution)
• The washroom off the milk house must be maintained in a sanitary condition
• Hot and cold pressurized potable water must be available for cleaning all surfaces in contact with raw milk in the parlour and the milk house. A lab report confirming that the water is potable must be available for the inspector to see and must be dated less than 12 months from the date it is requested.
• Written protocols must be available for the inspector to see covering:

a. Milking of dairy animals

b. Production, cooling, handling and storing of raw milk

c. Sanitation of equipment

d. Use, labelling and storage of all regulated products used on the farm

• Clear separation and storage of medication restricted to use in dry cows only from medications for use in the milking herd
• Records must be kept for 1 year that include clear identification of the animals they were administered to, after the use of:

e. Veterinary drugs

f. Medicated feed

• Records must be kept for 1 year after the use of any pesticide on the farm or to an animal that include clear identification of any animal they were administered to.