§ 21-2-5. Analysis of raw milk by private milk laboratories.
(a) Each milk plant engaged in processing milk shall, at least once in each calendar month, either through its own agents or through its milk haulers, collect, preserve, and submit to a private milk laboratory for analysis a sample or samples of the milk of each producer supplying milk to the milk plant. The laboratory shall determine the bacterial counts of the sample, both as raw milk and after pasteurization in the laboratory, the determination to be made by the standard plate count method, as well as a determination for any harmful substances that the director may by regulation require, and shall keep a record of these findings for a period of not less than one year following the findings which shall be open to inspection by the director or any milk inspector. The laboratory shall make a report to the milk plant submitting the sample with respect to each determination.
(b) The director may by regulation require any milk plant to submit samples of milk after pasteurization in the plant to a private laboratory for analysis for the purpose of ascertaining bacterial counts or the presence of harmful substances or organisms as the director may require, and the laboratory shall make its reports on its analysis available to the director in the same manner as with respect to samples of raw milk submitted by producers.
(c) Regulations promulgated by the director pursuant to this section requiring sampling by a private milk laboratory shall not impose an unreasonable burden on milk plants. The director may in his or her discretion engage private laboratories to perform any additional tests that he or she may require in the event the expense of the tests constitutes an unreasonable burden on milk plants. The director may by regulation require producers of raw milk cheese to submit samples of unpasteurized milk for said analysis.
History of Section.P.L. 1962, ch. 80, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 132, § 3; P.L. 2005, ch. 285, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 21-2 - Milk Sanitation Code
Section 21-2-1. - Short title.
Section 21-2-2. - Declaration of policy.
Section 21-2-3. - Definitions.
Section 21-2-5. - Analysis of raw milk by private milk laboratories.
Section 21-2-6. - Grade A dairy farm permit holders.
Section 21-2-7.1. - Rhode Island raw milk cheese.
Section 21-2-8. - Issuance of permits.
Section 21-2-9. - Duration and renewal of permits.
Section 21-2-10. - Issuance of temporary permits.
Section 21-2-11. - Emergency powers.
Section 21-2-12. - Revocation of permits.
Section 21-2-14. - Temporary permit suspension.
Section 21-2-16. - Embargo of sale or distribution of milk.
Section 21-2-17, 21-2-18. - Repealed.
Section 21-2-19. - Inspections and inspectors.
Section 21-2-20. - Special inspections.
Section 21-2-21. - Inspectors and assistants.
Section 21-2-22. - Inspection of animals and milk.
Section 21-2-23. - Director empowered to make regulations.
Section 21-2-24 - — 21-2-28. Repealed.
Section 21-2-29. - Standards to be maintained.
Section 21-2-30. - Information to be furnished to director.
Section 21-2-31. - Labeling of containers of milk and milk products.
Section 21-2-32. - Labeling as to breed of cows.
Section 21-2-33 - — 21-2-42. Repealed.
Section 21-2-43. - Enforcement of chapter.
Section 21-2-44. - State statutory provisions and rules paramount to local.
Section 21-2-45. - Standardization permitted.
Section 21-2-46. - Wholesale and contract sales.
Section 21-2-47 - — 21-2-50. Repealed.
Section 21-2-51. - Access of enforcement officers.
Section 21-2-52. - Appropriations and disbursements.
Section 21-2-53. - Powers of superior court in equity.
Section 21-2-54. - Prosecution of violations.
Section 21-2-55. - Penalties for violations.
Section 21-2-56. - Taking of samples in investigation of violations.