Rule-making notices
Notice of Hearings
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
[
CR 01-124]
The State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announces that it will hold public hearings on all the following:
•
A rule relating to dairy plants and cheesemakers. This rule modifies chs.
ATCP 80 and
69, Wis. Adm. Code.
•
A temporary emergency rule requiring DATCP approval of laboratory analysts who visually read drug residue screening tests on milk. This emergency rule modifies ch.
ATCP 77, Wis. Adm. Code. DATCP will charge laboratories a fee to cover the cost of evaluating analysts. DATCP adopted this temporary emergency rule effective November 15, 2001.
•
A proposal to adopt the above emergency rule as a “permanent" rule. DATCP proposes to do this by incorporating the emergency rule provisions with its “permanent" rules related to dairy plants and cheesemakers (see above).
DATCP will hold four hearings at the time and places shown below. DATCP invites the public to attend the hearings and comment on the proposed rules. Following the public hearing, the hearing record will remain open until December 15, 2001, for additional written comments.
You may obtain a free copy of these rules by contacting the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food Safety, 2811 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison WI 53708, or by calling (608) 224-4700. Copies will also be available at the hearings.
Hearing impaired persons may request an interpreter for these hearing. Please make reservations for a hearing interpreter by November 23, 2001, by writing to Debbie Mazanec, Division of Food Safety, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911, telephone (608) 224-4712. Alternatively, you may contact the department TDD at (608) 224-5058. Handicap access is available at the hearings.
Hearings are scheduled:
Thursday, November 29, 2000, 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
WDATCP Eau Claire Regional Office
3610 Oakwood Hills Parkway
Eau Claire, WI 54701-7754
Handicapped accessible
Tuesday, December 4, 2001, 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Appleton Public Library
Lower Level Meeting Room
925 So. Oneida Street
Appleton, WI 54911
Handicapped accessible
Wednesday, December 5, 2001, 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Green County Agriculture Bldg.
2841 6th Street
Monroe WI 53566
Handicapped accessible
Thursday, December 6, 2001, 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
U. W. Pyle Center
702 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53706
Handicapped accessible
The hearing in Madison on Thursday, December 6, 2001, will have videoconference connections with three additional locations. The public may participate in the hearing by testifying or registering an appearance at any of the four sites, and see as well as listen to testimony from other persons at all of the sites. Videoconference connections will be available from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the following locations:
•
LaCrosse State Office Building, Room B-29
3550 Morman Coulee Road
LaCrosse WI 54601
Handicapped accessible
•
Wisconsin Rapids State Office Building
2610 Industrial Street, Conference Room #4
Wisconsin Rapids WI 54495
Handicapped accessible
•
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
Instructional Services Bldg. Room #1034
Green Bay, WI 54311
Handicapped accessible
Text of Rule
ATCP 80 and 69 (Proposed Rule)
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Overview
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (“DATCP") regulates dairy plants to protect consumers and facilitate interstate shipment of Wisconsin dairy products. This rule updates current dairy plant rules under chs.
ATCP 69 and
80, Wis. Adm. Code. Among other things, this rule:
Establishes alternative training options for persons who wish to be licensed as cheesemakers.
Updates current standards for dairy plant facilities.
Authorizes a dairy plant operator to use reclaimed water for dairy plant operations, subject to specified conditions.
Clarifies a dairy plant operator's responsibilities related to the receipt of raw milk from dairy farms.
Modifies current dairy product temperature standards.
Modifies current standards for bacteria and coliform in pasteurized dairy products.
Modifies current restrictions related to the reprocessing of packaged dairy products returned to a dairy plant.
Updates current pasteurization standards, and establishes standards for higher-heat shorter-time (HHST) pasteurizers.
Updates current pasteurization record keeping requirements. Among other things, this rule clarifies record keeping requirements related to high-temperature short-time (HTST) and higher-heat shorter-time (HHST) pasteurization.
Updates current standards related to dairy product fortification, dairy product test methods, and grade A audit surveys.
