Regulation - Other
Amendments to R.R.O. 1990 Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products under the Milk Act
Regulation Number(s):
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 761
O. Reg. 202/19
O. Reg. 393/19
O. Reg. 202/19
O. Reg. 393/19
Instrument Type:
Regulation - Other
Bill or Act:
Milk Act
Summary of Decision:
The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission amended Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products under the Milk Act.
These amendments:
1. Remove prescriptive ceiling height requirements and replace with an outcome-based provision that addresses moisture accumulation on ceilings
2. Remove a prescriptive requirement for floor drains where there is no risk of liquid accumulation
3. Remove several prescriptive requirements related to equipment capacity
4. Exempt from licensing plants that: Only use pasteurized milk and milk ingredients to manufacture milk products; and Only sell their products directly to consumers (i.e., do not wholesale).
The Commission will continue to engage with stakeholders as it considers additional amendments to Regulation 761 that were proposed in the original registry posting.
The Regulation was filed with the Registrar of Regulations on June 14, 2019 and is now in effect.
UPDATE Nov. 29, 2019:
The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission amended Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products under the Milk Act.
The amendments eliminate prescriptive requirements that pose financial and operational barriers for smaller dairy processors, while protecting food safety, by:
1. Exempting dairy processors constructing or altering dairy plants that receive no more than 7,500 ltrs of milk per day from the requirement to construct an enclosed receiving room and an enclosed tank-truck wash station.
2. Requiring the exempted dairy plants to have a smooth surface that is impermeable to liquids on which the tank truck can park to deliver milk with a means of containing any potential spills that may occur during the normal practice of unloading milk.
3. Requiring the operator of exempted dairy plants to have protections available for openings into the tank-trucks to protect milk from contamination during delivery.
The Regulation was filed with the Registrar of Regulations and is now in effect.
These amendments:
1. Remove prescriptive ceiling height requirements and replace with an outcome-based provision that addresses moisture accumulation on ceilings
2. Remove a prescriptive requirement for floor drains where there is no risk of liquid accumulation
3. Remove several prescriptive requirements related to equipment capacity
4. Exempt from licensing plants that: Only use pasteurized milk and milk ingredients to manufacture milk products; and Only sell their products directly to consumers (i.e., do not wholesale).
The Commission will continue to engage with stakeholders as it considers additional amendments to Regulation 761 that were proposed in the original registry posting.
The Regulation was filed with the Registrar of Regulations on June 14, 2019 and is now in effect.
UPDATE Nov. 29, 2019:
The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission amended Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products under the Milk Act.
The amendments eliminate prescriptive requirements that pose financial and operational barriers for smaller dairy processors, while protecting food safety, by:
1. Exempting dairy processors constructing or altering dairy plants that receive no more than 7,500 ltrs of milk per day from the requirement to construct an enclosed receiving room and an enclosed tank-truck wash station.
2. Requiring the exempted dairy plants to have a smooth surface that is impermeable to liquids on which the tank truck can park to deliver milk with a means of containing any potential spills that may occur during the normal practice of unloading milk.
3. Requiring the operator of exempted dairy plants to have protections available for openings into the tank-trucks to protect milk from contamination during delivery.
The Regulation was filed with the Registrar of Regulations and is now in effect.
Further Information:
Appendix A: Regulation 761 Burden Reduction Comparison Chart
(Download Adobe Reader)
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 761: MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS
www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900761
Proposal Number:
18-MAFRA003
Posting Date:
November 19, 2018
Summary of Proposal:
The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (Commission) is proposing amendments to Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products, under the Milk Act.
The proposed amendments are intended to help reduce burden for existing dairy processors, new and expanding dairy processors, and small foodservice and retail operations.
The Commission amends regulations periodically to ensure that they continue to support producers, processors and the agri-food sector.
Identified Opportunities
Based on previous stakeholder input, the Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) have identified several prescriptive regulatory requirements that pose barriers and costs to Ontario dairy processors. These include:
Plant Ceiling Height and Design
Currently, any dairy processing facility must have a minimum three metre ceiling height, which can limit commercial building options and increases plant construction or renovation costs. This requirement was originally in place to prevent moisture accumulation on ceilings, but can be addressed by other means e.g., through ventilation.
Floor Slope and Drains
Currently all areas in a plant where milk or milk products are handled, processed or stored must have a sloped floor to a trapped floor drain. This requirement does not differentiate between 'wet' processing activities involving liquid milk products or other processing activities such as cutting and wrapping of cheese. These requirements often limit existing commercial building options, and increase plant construction or renovation costs.
Equipment
Currently, dairy processing facilities receiving milk must have a pump capable of unloading 2.2 hectolitres of milk per minute from a tank truck. There are also minimum size provisions for pasteurizers and butter churns. Specific equipment capacity requirements can impose additional costs, especially for small dairy processors.
Milk Receiving Rooms
New or expanding facilities receiving cow milk, must currently have an enclosed receiving room and a readily available tank truck wash station. The requirements can significantly increase plant construction or renovation costs, especially for processing facilities receiving only a small amount of milk.
Licensing Provisions
There is a very broad range of activities that are considered part of dairy processing, ranging from higher risk activities e.g., processing dairy products from raw milk, to lower risk activities e.g. making products for retail sale from pre-pasteurized milk products. Many such businesses are also subject to duplicate inspection oversight by public health.
Proposed Approach
The Commission is proposing to amend certain prescriptive and burdensome requirements to be more specific or outcome based. These amendments would respect dairy food safety and quality, and worker health and safety.
Interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback through the Regulatory Registry, or by contacting Commission staff. Commission and OMAFRA staff will also meet with stakeholders as appropriate.
The proposed amendments are intended to help reduce burden for existing dairy processors, new and expanding dairy processors, and small foodservice and retail operations.
The Commission amends regulations periodically to ensure that they continue to support producers, processors and the agri-food sector.
Identified Opportunities
Based on previous stakeholder input, the Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) have identified several prescriptive regulatory requirements that pose barriers and costs to Ontario dairy processors. These include:
Plant Ceiling Height and Design
Currently, any dairy processing facility must have a minimum three metre ceiling height, which can limit commercial building options and increases plant construction or renovation costs. This requirement was originally in place to prevent moisture accumulation on ceilings, but can be addressed by other means e.g., through ventilation.
Floor Slope and Drains
Currently all areas in a plant where milk or milk products are handled, processed or stored must have a sloped floor to a trapped floor drain. This requirement does not differentiate between 'wet' processing activities involving liquid milk products or other processing activities such as cutting and wrapping of cheese. These requirements often limit existing commercial building options, and increase plant construction or renovation costs.
Equipment
Currently, dairy processing facilities receiving milk must have a pump capable of unloading 2.2 hectolitres of milk per minute from a tank truck. There are also minimum size provisions for pasteurizers and butter churns. Specific equipment capacity requirements can impose additional costs, especially for small dairy processors.
Milk Receiving Rooms
New or expanding facilities receiving cow milk, must currently have an enclosed receiving room and a readily available tank truck wash station. The requirements can significantly increase plant construction or renovation costs, especially for processing facilities receiving only a small amount of milk.
Licensing Provisions
There is a very broad range of activities that are considered part of dairy processing, ranging from higher risk activities e.g., processing dairy products from raw milk, to lower risk activities e.g. making products for retail sale from pre-pasteurized milk products. Many such businesses are also subject to duplicate inspection oversight by public health.
Proposed Approach
The Commission is proposing to amend certain prescriptive and burdensome requirements to be more specific or outcome based. These amendments would respect dairy food safety and quality, and worker health and safety.
Interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback through the Regulatory Registry, or by contacting Commission staff. Commission and OMAFRA staff will also meet with stakeholders as appropriate.
Contact Address:
John Fitzgerald
Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission
1 Stone Road West, 5th Floor, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 4Y2
(519) 826-3222
Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission
1 Stone Road West, 5th Floor, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 4Y2
(519) 826-3222
Effective Date:
November 29, 2019
Decision:
Approved