Title of Regulation: 2VAC5-501. Regulations Governing the Cooling, Storing, Sampling and Transporting of Milk (amending 2VAC5-501-30, 2VAC5-501-60, 2VAC5-501-70).

Statutory Authority: §§ 3.2-5206, 3.2-5223 and 3.2-5224 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: March 4, 2009.

Agency Contact: Roy E. Seward, Jr., Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Oliver W. Hill, Sr., Building, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-3535, FAX (804) 371-7679, or email roy.seward@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments update citations to reflect the recodification of Title 3.1 to Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia, which became effective October 1, 2008.

2VAC5-501-30. Permits.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not possess a permit from the state regulatory authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia to: (i) operate a bulk milk pickup tanker; (ii) sample, measure, and collect milk from farm bulk milk cooling or holding tanks; (iii) sample, measure, or receive milk in cans or containers into any milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station; (iv) possess or transport official milk samples; (v) collect official milk samples from bulk milk pickup tankers or milk transport tanks; or (vi) collect official milk samples of pasteurized milk or pasteurized milk products from a milk plant. Each person shall pass a test as prescribed by the state regulatory authority. Qualifications of such persons shall be those set forth by laws, regulations, and procedures prescribed by the state regulatory authority. All such permits shall expire on December 31 next following the date of issuance. All such permits shall be renewed without further examination if the permit holder renews his permit within one year after the permit's expiration date. No permit to operate a bulk milk pickup tanker to sample, measure, and collect milk from farm bulk milk cooling or holding tanks shall be renewed without the applicant satisfactorily passing a test as prescribed by the state regulatory authority if the applicant did not renew his permit within one year after it expired. Each bulk milk sampler shall be evaluated by the state regulatory authority at least once during the first year after his permit is issued and a minimum of once every two years thereafter as a condition of permit renewal. It shall be the responsibility of each bulk milk sampler to ensure he is available to be evaluated by the state regulatory authority.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not possess a permit from the state regulatory authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia to operate a milk tank truck cleaning facility. Each milk tank truck cleaning facility shall be inspected and determined to be in compliance with all requirements of this chapter by the state regulatory authority prior to permit issuance. All such permits shall expire on December 31 next following the date of issuance.

C. Each contract hauler and subcontract hauler shall obtain a permit from the state regulatory authority in order to contract for the hauling of milk from a dairy farm to a milk plant or transfer station. Each contract hauler and subcontract hauler shall also obtain a permit from the state regulatory authority for each bulk milk pickup tanker and each milk transport tank they operate. Each bulk milk pickup tanker and each transport tank shall be identified by a five-digit number preceded by the letters "VA". The first two digits of the five-digit number shall identify the contract hauler or subcontract hauler as assigned by the state regulatory authority and the last three digits of the five-digit number shall identify the specific bulk milk pickup tanker or transport tank as assigned by the state regulatory authority. Each contract hauler and subcontract hauler shall identify each bulk milk pickup tanker and transport tank on the left hand side of the rear bulkhead of each tank with permanent, water resistant letters and numbers. Each contract hauler and subcontract hauler shall use only letters and numbers to identify a bulk milk pickup tanker or milk transport tank that are at least three inches tall and one-and-one-half inches wide. Each contract hauler and subcontract hauler shall provide the state regulatory authority with the name of the manufacturer, year made, model number, capacity, serial number, number of compartments, whether the tanker is a bulk milk pickup tanker or milk transport tank, delivery address, mailing address, telephone, and contact information for each bulk milk pickup tanker and milk transport tank for permitting purposes. Permits for contract haulers, subcontract haulers, bulk milk pickup tankers, and milk transport tanks shall expire on December 31 next following the date of issuance and shall be renewed annually.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not possess a permit from the state regulatory authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia to operate a pay purpose laboratory or to test milk for pay purposes. Each person employed by a pay purpose laboratory who is involved in testing milk for pay purposes shall pass a test as prescribed by the state regulatory authority. Qualifications of such persons shall be those set forth by laws, regulations, and procedures prescribed by the state regulatory authority. All such permits shall expire on December 31 next following the date of issuance and shall be renewed annually. All such permits shall be renewed without further examination if the permit holder renews within one year after the permit's expiration date.

E. Only a person who complies with this chapter shall be entitled to receive and retain such a permit. Permits or identification numbers shall not be transferable with respect to persons, equipment, or locations.

F. The state regulatory authority may cancel, suspend, or revoke the permit of any person, or may deny to any person a permit if:

1. It has reason to believe that a public health hazard exists;

2. The permit holder fails to engage daily in the business for which the permit was issued;

3. The permit holder was not evaluated by the state regulatory authority if required for permit renewal;

4. The permit holder fails to comply with any requirement of this chapter, or of §§ 3.1-420 through 3.1-424, §§ 3.1-530.1 through 3.1-530.10, §§ 3.1-531.1 through 3.1-542, or §§ 3.1-544 through 3.1-545.1 §§ 3.2-5200 through 3.2-5210 or 3.2-5218 through 3.2-5233 of the Code of Virginia;

5. The permit holder has interfered with the state regulatory authority in the performance of its duties;

6. The person supplies false or misleading information to the state regulatory authority: (i) in the person's application for a permit; (ii) concerning the identity of the person who will control the business or equipment that is the subject of the permit; (iii) concerning the amount of milk, milk product, or dairy product that the person weighs, samples, tests, or transports; (iv) concerning the distribution of the person's milk, milk product, or dairy product; (v) concerning any investigation conducted by the state regulatory authority; or (vi) concerning the location of any part of the person's operation or equipment that is subject to a permit;

7. The permit holder engages in fraudulent activity regarding: (i) the amount of milk, milk product, or dairy product the person weighs, samples, tests, or transports; (ii) the collection of samples used to determine compliance with any provision of 2VAC5-490, 2VAC5-530, or this chapter; or (iii) the collection or testing of samples used for pay purposes;

8. The permit holder fails to correct any deficiency that the state regulatory authority has cited in a written notice of intent to suspend the person's permit, as a violation of this chapter; or

9. The authority in another state responsible for issuing permits to contract haulers, subcontract haulers, bulk milk haulers, bulk milk samplers, dairy plant samplers, transporters of official samples, pay purpose laboratories, or testers of milk samples for pay purposes has suspended, or revoked the permit of the person in that state for any act or omission that would violate this chapter or the statutes under which this chapter was adopted, had the act or omission occurred in the Commonwealth.

G. The state regulatory authority may summarily suspend the permit of any person for violation of subdivisions F 1 or F 8 of this section.

H. Each bulk milk sampler and bulk milk hauler shall ensure that one complete set of milk samples representing each of the milk pickups on each load of farm pickup milk in his possession shall accompany the load to its destination. No person may remove the last complete set of milk samples from a bulk milk pickup tanker prior to its delivery to a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station.

I. Each person who holds a permit to produce milk shall store a minimum of the past 30 days bulk milk pickup tickets in his milkroom for use by the state regulatory authority if he ships his milk by bulk shipment.

J. Each person who operates a dairy farm shall abstain from selling any milk from his dairy farm after his milk tests positive for excessive drug residues until notified by the state regulatory authority that a followup official milk sample taken from his milk supply tested negative for excessive drug residues.

K. To provide for permitting reciprocity between states, the state regulatory authority may issue a Virginia permit to any bulk milk hauler or bulk milk sampler who holds a valid permit issued by the regulatory authority in another state without that person having to take or pass a test in Virginia if the person will be picking up or sampling milk in Virginia.

L. Each person who operates a dairy farm shall use only a farm bulk milk pickup tanker or milk transport tanker for direct loading and storage of milk on his dairy farm if: (i) the milk tank truck is equipped with a means to collect representative milk samples approved by the state regulatory authority at his dairy farm; (ii) the milk tank truck is always delivered to the same milk plant in Virginia where a representative milk sample may be obtained by the state regulatory authority or (iii) the operator of the dairy farm arranges for official milk samples to be collected and delivered to a laboratory operated by the state regulatory authority.

M. Each bulk milk hauler, bulk milk sampler, contract hauler, and subcontract hauler who transports any pasteurized milk, pasteurized milk product, pasteurized dairy product, or pasteurized frozen dessert mix shall use only a milk tank truck that is dedicated solely to transport or hold pasteurized milk, pasteurized milk product, pasteurized dairy product, or pasteurized frozen dessert mix if the pasteurized milk, pasteurized milk product, pasteurized dairy product, or pasteurized frozen dessert mix will not be repasteurized in the milk plant receiving the pasteurized milk, pasteurized milk product, pasteurized dairy product, or pasteurized frozen dessert mix prior to being packaged for sale.

2VAC5-501-60. Construction and operation of farm bulk milk cooling or holding tanks, recording thermometers, interval timing devices, and other required milkhouse or milkroom facilities.

A. Each person who operates a dairy farm and installs one or more farm bulk cooling or holding tanks in his milkhouse shall provide the following facilities:

1. A milk hose port opening no larger than eight inches in diameter through a wall in the milkhouse closest to the area the bulk milk pickup tanker will be parked to receive the milk from each farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

2. The hose port shall be provided with a self-closing door which shall open to the outside;

3. The hose port shall be of sufficient height above the milkhouse floor and the outside apron to prevent flooding or draining of the milkhouse;

4. An outside apron constructed of concrete or other equally impervious material shall be provided on the outside of the milkhouse directly beneath the hose port to protect the milk-conducting equipment from contamination;

5. Each outside apron shall be a minimum of four inches thick if constructed of concrete and measure a minimum of two feet by two feet horizontally;

6. Each outside apron constructed of a material other than concrete shall measure a minimum of two feet by two feet horizontally;

7. A 220-volt grounded weatherproof electrical outlet installed on the outside of the milkroom or milkhouse near the hoseport for the bulk milk hauler's use to power the milk pump on the bulk milk pickup tanker; and

8. A switch to control the electrical power to the 220-volt grounded weatherproof electrical outlet located on the inside of the milkroom or milkhouse near the outlet to the farm bulk cooling or holding tank.

B. Each person who operates a dairy farm and installs one or more farm bulk cooling or holding tanks in his milkhouse or milkroom shall comply with the following requirements:

1. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with all the requirements contained in:

a. 3-A Sanitary Standards for Farm Milk Cooling and Holding Tanks, Document No. 13-09 (Nov. 1993); or

b. 3-A Sanitary Standards for Farm Milk Storage Tanks, Document No. 30-01 (Sept. 1984);

2. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be equipped with an indicating thermometer accurate to plus or minus 2.0°F and capable of registering the temperature of the milk in the tank before it reaches 10% of the tank's volume;

3. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be installed to comply with the following minimum clearance distances around, above, and below each farm bulk cooling or holding tank:

a. Three feet measured horizontally between a wash vat and the outermost portion of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

b. Three feet measured horizontally in a 180-degree arch from the front of the tank where the outlet valve is located;

c. Two feet measured horizontally from the sides and rear of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank to any wall, shelves, water heater, hand-basin, or other object;

d. Eighteen inches measured horizontally from the outermost portion of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank to any floor drain and the floor drain shall not be located underneath the tank;

e. Three feet measured vertically from the top of the manhole cover of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank to the ceiling;

f. Eight inches measured vertically from the floor underneath the bottom of any round farm bulk cooling or holding tank that measures greater than 72 inches in diameter;

g. Four inches measured vertically from the floor underneath the bottom of any round farm bulk cooling or holding tank that measures equal to or less than 72 inches in diameter; and

h. Six inches measured vertically from the floor underneath the bottom of any flat bottom farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

4. Farm bulk cooling or holding tanks installed through a milkroom wall shall meet the following minimum requirements:

a. The area between the farm bulk cooling or holding tank and the wall shall be tightly sealed;

b. All vents and openings on the farm bulk cooling or holding tank located outside the milkroom shall be protected from dust, insects, moisture, and other debris which might enter the tank;

c. All agitators located outside the milkroom shall be equipped with a tightly fitting seal between the bottom of the agitator motor and the top of the farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

5. Each person who operates a dairy farm shall ensure that each farm bulk cooling or holding tank is installed with a foundation of sufficient strength to support the tank when it is full;

6. Each person who operates a dairy farm shall obtain prior approval from the state regulatory authority for each farm bulk cooling or holding tank and its installation before it is installed on the person's dairy farm; and

7. Each person who operates a dairy farm shall ensure each farm bulk cooling or holding tank on his farm is installed, gauged, and a volume chart prepared in compliance with § 3.1-941.1 3.2-5260 of the Code of Virginia. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank and any gauge rod, surface gauge, gauge, or gauge tube and calibration chart associated with it shall be identified by serial number in a prominent manner.

C. Each person who holds a grade "A" dairy farm permit and installs a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with the following:

1. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be equipped with a recording thermometer;

2. Each recording thermometer shall be installed to comply with the following:

a. Each recording thermometer shall be installed in the milkhouse;

b. No recording thermometer may be installed on or attached to a farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

c. Each recording thermometer shall be installed: (i) on an inside wall of the milkhouse; (ii) on an outside wall of the milkhouse or milkroom if installed with one inch of rigid insulation between the back of the recording thermometer and the surface of the outside wall; or (iii) on metal brackets from the ceiling or floor;

d. Each recording thermometer sensor shall be installed on the farm bulk cooling or holding tank to record the temperature of the milk in the tank before the milk reaches 10% of the tank's volume;

3. Standards for recording thermometers. Each recording thermometer installed on a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with the following minimum requirements:

a. The case for each recording thermometer shall be moisture proof under milkhouse conditions;

b. The case for each recording thermometer shall be UL rated NEMA 4X enclosure or equivalent as provided in ANSI/NEMA 250, Enclosures for Electrical Equipment (1000 Volts Maximum) dated August 30, 2001;

c. The case for each recording thermometer shall be equipped with a corrosion-resistant latching mechanism that keeps the recording thermometer tightly closed;

d. The recorder chart for each recording thermometer shall not exceed a maximum chart rotation time of 48 hours. Recorder charts for farm bulk cooling or holding tanks that are picked up every other day shall have a chart rotation time of 48 hours. Recorder charts for farm bulk cooling or holding tanks that are picked up every day may have a chart rotation time of 24 or 48 hours;

e. The recorder chart for each recording thermometer shall be marked with water resistant ink;

f. The scale on the recording chart shall cover a minimum of 30°F to 180°F, with the scale reversed to show cold temperatures at the outside of the chart for best resolution;

g. Each division on the recording chart shall represent a maximum of 1.0°F between 30°F and 60°F, with two degree divisions between 60°F and 180°F;

h. Spacing of divisions on the recorder chart shall be a minimum of 0.040 inches per 2.0°F, with the ink line easily distinguishable from the printed line;

i. The recording thermometer speed of response or sensing of temperature shall be a maximum of 20 seconds;

j. The recording thermometer shall be accurate to plus or minus 2.0°F;

k. The sensor for each recording thermometer shall be: (i) a resistance temperature detector (RTD) type sensor; (ii) constructed of stainless steel type 304 or type 316 on all exterior surfaces; (iii) hermetically sealed; (iv) accurate to 0.3°C; and (v) continuous run wire;

l. Each recording thermometer and sensor shall be calibrated and supplied as a package;

m. No capillary system containing any toxic gas or liquid shall be allowed to come into direct contact with any milk or milk product;

n. Other recording devices may be accepted by the state regulatory authority if they comply with the requirements of subdivisions 3 a through m of this subsection;

o. If a strip chart style recorder is used, it shall move not less than one inch per hour, and may be continuous for a maximum of 30 days; and

p. Recording thermometers may be manually wound or electrically operated;

4. Recording thermometer operation: Each recording thermometer installed on a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with the following minimum operating requirements:

a. Each recording thermometer shall be provided with a means to seal the calibration and zeroing mechanism to provide evidence of unauthorized adjustment or tampering;

b. Each recording thermometer shall be provided with a pin in the hub to prevent the recording chart from being rotated; and

c. Each recording thermometer shall be properly grounded and short circuit protected;

5. Each person who operates a dairy farm and installs a recording thermometer on his farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall maintain a minimum of a 30-day supply of unused recorder charts designed for the specific recording thermometer he installed and maintain a minimum of the past 60 days of used charts for purposes of inspection;

6. Each person who operates a dairy farm and installs a recording thermometer on his farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall provide a moisture proof storage container in the milkhouse or milkroom for purpose of storing a supply of new charts and a minimum of 60 days of used charts;

D. No person may remove from the dairy farm any recorder chart that has been used once and removed from the recorder within the past 60 days unless he has obtained permission from the state regulatory authority. All recorder charts removed from any dairy farm by any person other than a representative of the state regulatory authority shall be returned to the dairy farm within ten days. All recorder charts shall be available to the state regulatory authority.

E. Handling of recording charts. Each bulk milk hauler shall comply with the following requirements when picking up milk from a dairy farm if the farm bulk cooling or holding tank is equipped with a recording thermometer:

1. Each milk hauler, in making a milk pickup, shall properly agitate the milk and remove the chart from the recorder;

2. Each milk hauler shall record the following information on each chart removed from the recorder:

a. The date and time of pickup; and

b. The signature of the milk hauler;

3. Each milk hauler shall store the used chart in the storage container supplied by the dairy farmer;

4. Each milk hauler shall obtain a new chart from the supply provided by the dairy farmer and record the following information in the chart:

a. The date; and

b. The patron number of the dairy farmer;

5. If a recorder chart is used for more than one pickup, each milk hauler shall identify each lot of milk on the chart with the date, time of pickup, and his signature;

6. Before removing any milk from the farm tank, each milk hauler shall check the recorder chart. If the recorder chart indicates that the milk temperature has varied in a manner that would preclude acceptance, he shall immediately notify his superior and the dairy farmer. If the milk is rejected, each milk hauler shall record this information on the chart. If the milk is picked up, each milk hauler shall sign the chart and record the date and time of pickup;

F. Maintenance of recording thermometers. Each person who operates a dairy farm and holds a grade "A" dairy farm permit shall be responsible for maintaining each of his recording thermometers in good repair and adjustment to include calibrating the recording thermometer to read accurately within plus or minus 2.0°F of the actual milk temperature in the farm bulk cooling or holding tank.

G. Sealing of recording thermometers: Each recording thermometer installed on a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be inspected and may be sealed by the state regulatory authority after it has been shown to be properly installed and calibrated.

H. Each person who holds a grade "A" dairy farm permit and installs a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall:

1. Install on each farm bulk cooling or holding tank an interval timing device that automatically agitates the milk in the farm bulk tank for not less than five minutes every hour during the entire time milk is being cooled or stored in the tank;

2. Not install a manual switch capable of turning off the interval timing device on any farm bulk milk cooling or holding tank while any milk is being cooled or stored; and

3. Maintain in good repair and operating condition each interval timing device installed on his farm bulk cooling or holding tank.

2VAC5-501-70. Measuring, sampling, and testing.

A. Quantity measurements. Each person who determines the quantity of milk in any lot of milk being picked up on any dairy farm in Virginia shall comply with one of the following:

1. If the milk is being picked up from a farm bulk cooling or holding tank, the person shall use only a measuring rod, gauge, or gauge tube accurately calibrated to the individual farm bulk cooling or holding tank and the accompanying calibration chart with a serial number that matches the serial number for the specific farm bulk cooling or holding tank for which it was prepared;

2. If the milk being picked up is not stored in a farm bulk cooling or holding tank, the person shall determine the quantity of milk at the point of delivery to the milk plant processing the milk by commingling all of the milk in a vessel equipped with a gauge rod, surface gauge, gauge, or gauge tube and a volume chart that has been prepared in compliance with § 3.1-941.1 3.2-5620 of the Code of Virginia;

3. If the milk being picked up is not stored in a farm bulk cooling or holding tank and the basis for payment for the milk will be based solely on the volume of milk in gallons, the person shall determine the quantity of milk by adding the volume in gallons of each separate full container and the volume in gallons of any milk in containers that are not full; or

4. If the milk being picked up is not stored in a farm bulk cooling or holding tank and the basis for payment for the milk will be based solely on the pounds of milk delivered, the person shall determine the quantity of milk in pounds by weighing each of the containers of milk on a commercial scale before and after they have been emptied and subtracting the weight of the empty containers from the total weight of the containers and the milk, the difference being the weight in pounds of milk.

B. Each person who desires to convert a volumetric measurement of milk to weight in pounds of milk shall multiply the volume of milk in gallons by 8.60.

C. Each person who operates a dairy farm and transports any milk in cans or other containers from his dairy farm to a milk plant and intends to determine the basis for payment of his milk based solely on its volume in gallons or solely on its weight in pounds, shall ensure the cans or other containers comply with the following:

1. Each container shall be provided with a visual means to measure the volume of milk in the container in divisions of one or more whole gallons up to the total capacity of the container;

2. Each container shall be equipped with a tightly fitting lid that prevents any milk from leaking out around the closure;

3. Each container shall be manufactured from stainless steel, food grade plastic, or tinned metal;

4. No container shall be manufactured from glass or other easily breakable material;

5. Each container shall be smooth and easily cleanable; and

6. Each container shall be equipped with an opening large enough to allow the container to be washed by hand if it is intended to be washed by hand or washed by mechanical means if it is intended to be washed by mechanical means.

D. Each person who operates a pay purpose laboratory shall:

1. Provide a separate room of sufficient size in which pay purpose testing shall be conducted;

2. Provide lighting of at least 20 foot-candles when measured at work bench levels and at all other work areas used to conduct testing;

3. Provide adequate ventilation sufficient to prevent condensation from forming and to prevent noxious or hazardous chemical fumes from collecting in the laboratory;

4. Provide heating and cooling equipment sufficient to maintain a constant room temperature of 70°F plus or minus 2.0°F in his laboratory at all times;

5. Provide a separate permanently installed hand-washing facility with hot and cold running water under pressure supplied through a mix valve, soap, and single service paper towels;

6. Provide only potable water under pressure in his laboratory;

7. Provide walls that are constructed of impervious material with a light-colored material and that are easily cleanable;

8. Provide floors made of concrete or other equally impervious material that are easily cleanable;

9. Provide toilet facilities for his employees;

10. Use only methods and equipment approved by the state regulatory authority to test milk for protein, solids, solids not fat, and fat;

11. Construct the facility to insure that the laboratory environment has a stable electrical supply, water supply, stable heating and cooling, and stable ventilation to allow a constantly controllable environment for pay purpose testing procedures and pay purpose equipment; and

12. Dispose of all liquid, solid, and gaseous wastes in a manner that complies with state and federal requirements for waste disposal.

E. Sampling. Each bulk milk hauler shall:

1. Collect at least two representative samples from each bulk milk cooling or holding tank each time that milk is picked up from the dairy farm for use as official milk samples;

2. Collect a minimum of four ounces of milk for each official milk sample collected;

3. Maintain custody of all official milk samples collected or transfer custody of all official milk samples collected to another permitted bulk milk hauler, bulk milk sampler, or at the discretion of the state regulatory agency, lock all official milk samples in a suitable container in which they may be transported or stored;

4. Pickup all of the milk in each farm bulk cooling or holding tank each time that milk is picked up from the farm bulk cooling or holding tank; and

5. Pick up only milk that is 45°F or cooler, but not frozen.

F. Butterfat testing. Each person who desires to determine the butterfat content of milk as a basis for payment shall:

1. Select from each dairy farm supplying them with milk a minimum of four milk samples taken at irregular intervals each month and utilize only laboratory butterfat test results from milk samples that have been tested within 48 hours of collection for pay purposes; or

2. Collect a representative sample from each shipment of each producer supplying them with milk for a maximum of 16 days, if composite milk samples are used to determine butterfat content;

3. Store composite milk samples only in an approved milk laboratory that will perform the butterfat test;

4. Preserve all composite milk samples with an appropriate preservative designed to prevent the spoilage of milk and that will not affect the butterfat test; and

5. Test each composite milk sample within three days following the end of the number of days used to create the composite milk sample.