3 Del. Admin. Code § 303-11.0 - Regular Testing of Raw Milk for Human Consumption

11.1 On-Farm Testing of Raw Milk

11.1.1 The permit holder may conduct on-farm testing of raw milk using the standards in subsection 11.2.3 of this regulation.

11.1.2 The permit holder's raw milk risk management plan will describe the on-farm tests to be conducted, process for testing, and frequency for each test in accordance with subsection 11.2.3 of this regulation.

11.1.3 On-farm testing of raw milk shall be conducted using equipment and procedures described in the permit holder's raw milk risk management plan and approved by the Department. The permit holder is responsible for all on-farm testing costs.

11.1.4 The testing interval for on-farm testing shall be at least weekly. The Department may require more frequent testing for new permit holders or when the Department determines more frequent testing is necessary.

11.1.5 The permit holder shall create procedures to evaluate and respond to on-farm testing results in the permit holder's raw milk risk management plan. Testing results and actions taken shall be documented by the permit holder.

11.1.6 The permit holder shall maintain records for at least 3 years of all on-farm testing and make those records available to the Department upon request.

11.1.7 Dairies with on farm testing programs approved by the Department may reduce testing required by 11.2.3 of this regulation to once per month with prior approval from the Department.

11.2 Laboratory Testing of Raw Milk

11.2.1 The permit holder shall be responsible to arrange for the regular sampling and testing required with respect to the raw milk permit, and to pay for this testing.

11.2.2 Raw milk samples submitted for testing shall be analyzed at a NCIMS laboratory approved by the Department.

11.2.3 The permit holder shall coordinate the testing of raw milk for human consumption on the following schedule, and the raw milk samples must meet the following standards:

Required Action Interval	Type of Action or Test Required	Standard
At all times	Maintain raw milk temperature in accordance with raw milk temperature standards.	Raw milk shall be cooled to 40° F (4° C) or less within 2 hours after milking, provided that the blend temperature after the first and subsequent milking does not exceed 50° F (10° C).
At least once each week	Bacterial count	Bacteria may not be present in excess of 20,000 per milliliter. Note: Tested in conjunction with a drug residue/ inhibitory substance test.
At least once each week	Coliform count	Coliform may not exceed 10 per milliliter. Note: Tested in conjunction with a drug residue/ inhibitory substance test.
At least once each month	Somatic cell count	The somatic cell count may not exceed 750,000/milliliter (1,500,000/ml for goat milk).
At least once each month	Test for presence of drugs (including growth inhibitors)	There may be no positive results for drug residue, using drug residue detection laboratory.
At least once each month	Test for the presence of pesticides	No pesticide may be detected at or above actionable levels established for the pesticide by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
At least every 6 months	From a sample drawn from the bulk tank, test for presence of the following pathogenic bacteria: Salmonellae, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter and E. Coli 0157:H7	There may be no pathogenic bacteria present.

11.2.4 The permit holder must maintain testing records for at least 3 years.

Notes

3 Del. Admin. Code § 303-11.0

28 DE Reg. 871 (6/1/2025) (Final)