§ 59.211. Construction and repair of containers and equipment.

 (a)  All multiuse containers and equipment with which milk or milk products come into contact shall be of smooth, impervious, corrosion-resistant and nontoxic material.

 (b)  All milk contact surfaces of multiuse containers and equipment shall consist of any of the following:

   (1)  Stainless steel of the AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 300 series.

   (2)  Equally corrosion-resistant metal which is nontoxic and nonabsorbent.

   (3)  Heat-resistant glass.

   (4)  Plastic or rubber and rubberlike materials which are relatively inert, and resistant to scratching, scoring, decomposition, crazing, chipping and distortion under normal use conditions; which are nontoxic, fat-resistant and relatively nonabsorbent; which do not impart flavor or odor to the product; and which maintain their original properties under repeated use conditions.

 (c)  All joints in containers, equipment, and utensils shall be flush and finished as smooth as adjoining surfaces. Where a rotating shaft is inserted through a surface with which milk or milk products come into contact, the joint between the moving and stationary surfaces shall be close-fitting. Where a thermometer or temperature-sensing element is inserted through a surface with which milk or milk products come into contact, a pressure-tight seal shall be provided ahead of all threads and crevices.

 (d)  All openings in covers of tanks, vats, separators and the like shall be protected by raised edges or otherwise to prevent the entrance of surface drainage. Condensation-diverting aprons shall be provided as close to the tank or vat as possible on all pipes, thermometers, or temperature-sensing elements and other equipment extending into a tank, bowl, vat or distributor unless a watertight joint is provided.

 (e)  All surfaces with which milk or milk products come into contact shall be easily accessible or demountable for manual cleaning or shall be designed for mechanical cleaning. All product-contact surfaces shall be readily accessible for inspection and shall be self-draining. Wing nuts, bayonet locks and similar devices shall be used whenever possible in lieu of bolts and nuts to promote easy disassembly.

 (f)  There shall be no threads used in contact with milk or dairy products except where needed for functional and safety reasons such as in clarifiers, pumps and separators. Such threads shall be of a sanitary type.

 (g)  All multiuse containers and other equipment shall have rounded corners and shall be in good repair and free from breaks, crevices and corrosion. Milk cans shall have umbrella-type covers.

 (h)  Strainers, if used, shall be of perforated metal design and so constructed as to utilize single-service strainer media. Multiple-use woven material shall not be used for straining milk; provided that, when required for functional reasons inherent to the production of certain milk products such as buttermilk, whey and dry milk products, woven material may be used where it is impractical to use perforated metal. However, woven material parts shall be mechanically cleaned by such methods that thoroughly clean the woven material and do not contaminate the product.

 (i)  All single-service containers, closures, gaskets and other articles with which milk or milk products come in contact shall be nontoxic.

 (j)  The manufacture, packing, transportation and handling of single-service containers, closures, caps, gaskets and similar articles shall be approved by the Secretary. Inspections and tests will be made by the Secretary or any agency authorized by him. Milk handling equipment shall be constructed and installed to conform with 3A Standards.

   This section cited in 7 Pa. Code §  59.109 (relating to utensils and equipment—construction); 7 Pa. Code §  59.212 (relating to cleaning and sanitizing containers and equipment); 7 Pa. Code §  59.218 (relating to bottling and packaging); 7 Pa. Code §  59.251 (relating to receiving station requirements); 7 Pa. Code §  59.252 (relating to transfer station requirements); 7 Pa. Code §  59.253 (relating to tank truck cleaning and sanitizing facilities requirements); and 7 Pa. Code §  59.704 (relating equipment and utensils).