Farmers have been asked to upgrade their milk cooling systems to avoid the potential logjam under the new legislation coming in force in 2018
New rules proposed by ministry of primary industry are implemented to align the New Zealand’s standards to satisfy the international expectations of traders.
Farmers are asked to shop around for the new systems and to get reputable people to access their cooling systems. As there are already loopholes in the industry so the farmers that could not afford it can at least put cooling systems in purchasing order.
According to the new rules introduced from 1st August 2016 to 1st January 2018, raw milk must be cooled down to 10 degree C or lower within 4 hours in the start of milking. Within 2 hours of completion of milking the milk must be cooled down to 6 degree and within the 6 hours of commencement it must be cooled down to 6 degree.
Milk must be held at or below 6 degree during the collection or before the next milking. Additional milking into mat should be below 10 degrees.
If the farmers have installed bulk milk coolers then milk must enter the tank at or below 6 degree. To make sure that all rules are met farmers must have the auditable system.
Above new rules will replace the current regulations of keeping raw milk at or below 7 degree within the 3 hours of completion and stay at 7 degree until the collection.
