Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-2-16-.02 - Definitions

(1) Terms Defined. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and application of these regulations.

(a) "Abnormal(ities)" means:

1. Adulterated. This would include milk that:

(i) Bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance in a quantity that may render it injurious to health;

(ii) Bears or contains any added poisonous or deleterious substance for which no safe tolerance has been established by state or federal regulation, or is in excess of such tolerance if one has been established;

(iii) Consists, in whole or in part, of any substance unfit for human consumption;

(iv) Has been produced, processed, prepared, packaged, or held under unsanitary conditions;

(v) Is packaged in a container which is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health;

(vi) Has any substance added thereto or mixed or packaged therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is; or

(vii) Contains any animal drug residues;

2. Irregular. Milk that is uncharacteristic in color, odor, and/or texture.

3. Undesirable. Milk that, prior to the milking of the animal, is known to be unsuitable for sale, such as colostrum.

(b) "CFR" means the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Code of Federal Regulations. Citations in these regulations to the CFR refer sequentially to the Title, Part, and Section numbers, such as 40 CFR 180.940 refers to Title 40, Part 180, Section 940.

(c) "CIP" means "Cleaned in Place" by the circulation or flowing by mechanical means through a piping system of a detergent solution, water rinse, and sanitizing solution onto or over equipment surfaces that require cleaning.

(d) "Clean" means the effective and thorough removal of product and/or contaminants from direct product contact surfaces.

(e) "Cowyard" means:

1. The enclosed or unenclosed area adjacent to the milking barn in which the lactating animals may congregate, including animal-housing areas and feed lots.

2. Animal housing areas, stables without stanchions, such as loose-housing stables, pen stables, resting barns, holding barns, loafing sheds, wandering sheds, and free-stall housing are considered part of the cowyard.

(f) "Dairy Farm" means any place where one (1) or more lactating animals (cows, goats, sheep, or other hooved mammal) are kept for milking purposes, and from which the milk is provided, sold, or offered for sale.

(g) "Department" means the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

(h) "Domestic Purposes" means uses related to the supply, service, and activities of households and private residences.

(i) "Goat Milk" means the normal lacteal secretion, practically free of colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one (1) or more healthy goats.

(j) "Misbranded" means:

1. The product's labeling is false or misleading;

2. The product's container is made, formed, or filled as to be misleading;

3. Any word, statement, or other information required to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness, and in such terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the consumer under customary conditions of purchase and use;

4. It purports to be or is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties as the Commissioner determines necessary in order to fully inform consumers as to its value for such uses; and

5. It bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative.

(k) "Owner" means the legal owner and operator of a dairy farm, including the animal(s) and equipment required in the production of raw milk for human consumption.

(l) "Person" means any individual, producer, distributor, plant operator, partnership, corporation, company, firm, trustee, association, or institution.

(m) "Raw Milk for Human Consumption" means:

1. Fluid whole milk in its natural state from healthy cows, or other hoofed animals, which is intended for human consumption and has been produced under these rules and regulations pursuant to the Georgia Raw Dairy Act; and

2. Has not received any heat treatment such as pasteurization or any other further processing.

(n) "Sanitize" means to adequately treat cleaned surfaces by a process that is effective in destroying vegetative cells of pathogens and in substantially reducing numbers of other undesirable microorganisms, but without adversely affecting the product or its safety for the consumer.

(o) "Sheep Milk" means the normal lacteal secretion, practically free of colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one (1) or more healthy sheep.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-2-16-.02

O.C.G.A. § 26-2-450, et seq.

Original Rule entitled "Definitions" adopted. F. June 9, 2023; eff. July 1, 2023, as specified by the Agency.