Canadian Quality Milk On-Farm Food Safety Program - Centre ...

Canadian Quality Milk
Introduction
Whether cattle are grazing in pastures, passing time in exercise yards, standing in the
milking parlour or lying in their stalls, their environment can pose hazards if improperly
managed. Exposure to chemicals, contaminated water sources, hazardous objects (e.g.
discarded wire, boards with nails), manure and muddy areas can affect cattle health
and, in turn, milk quality and safety.
The proper management of pesticides, animal manure and pests is important to the
production of safe milk and meat. Livestock wastes include potentially harmful
components: nitrates, phosphates, organic material and microbes (i.e., bacteria,
viruses, protozoa and parasites). Improperly handled livestock waste can pollute water
sources, cause diseases, and result in fly outbreaks.
The milk house is the final stop for quality control on the farm. Milk safety and quality
can be affected by hazards such as insects and improperly stored cleaning, pest control
and pharmaceutical products.
Best management practices for dairy operation facilities, from simple cleanliness to
overall facility design, can minimize these hazards and keep livestock dry, comfortable,
safe and healthy.
1.1 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
The Canadian Quality Milk program is not designed to replace or supercede regulations
pertaining to food safety on dairy farms. As stated in the introduction of this manual, a
farm/producer must be licensed to ship milk by the provincial regulatory authority. The
farm/producer must also meet the minimum acceptable standards set out in the Dairy
Regulations of that province that apply to food safety, as well as any food safety-related
Federal regulations (e.g. feed regulations). As regulations are added or amended in a
province, they will apply to the CQM program.
1.2 PESTICIDES AND CHEMICALS
Pesticide and chemical use on dairy farms must be properly controlled to ensure that
milk and meat are not accidentally contaminated. Pesticides include chemicals used on
crops or pastures, and in and around the milk house and barns.
1.2.1 Pesticide and Chemical Application
Only use registered pesticides. All products used on pastures, crops, feeds and
surrounding land or in farm buildings must be registered for use in Canada. This
includes pesticides used to control rodents and flies.
June 2010 1—3