NAC445A.563. Inspection of containers and closures; requirements for disposable containers and closures.

     1. During the filling, capping and sealing of the water containers, the operator shall watch the performance of the filler, capper and sealer to ensure that the filling, capping and sealing is performed in a sanitary manner. The operator shall visually or electrically inspect each filled container to ensure that it is sound, properly capped or sealed, coded and labeled. A container which is found to be unsatisfactory must be reprocessed or discarded.

     2. The operator shall not use containers and closures which will render the water injurious to health or which will adversely affect the flavor, color, odor or bacteriological quality of the water. The operator shall inspect each container and closure to ascertain whether it is free from visual contamination.

     3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, at least once every 3 months, a bacteriological examination must be made from four containers and closures selected just before they are to be filled and sealed. At least three of the four samples must not contain more than one bacteria per milliliter of capacity as tested by the rinse method or one colony per square centimeter of the surface area as tested by the swab method. Each sample must not contain any coliform organisms. The procedures and apparatus for these tests must conform to those set forth in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products, 16th Edition, 1992, which is hereby adopted by reference. A copy of the publication may be obtained from the American Public Health Association, 1015 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005, at a price of $50. The tests must be performed by a qualified employee at the plant or at a laboratory certified by the Board pursuant to this chapter.

     4. If an operator purchases disposable containers and closures from a manufacturer listed in the Sanitation Compliance and Enforcement Ratings of Interstate Milk Shippers, the operator is not required to comply with the requirements of subsection 3. The Sanitation Compliance and Enforcement Ratings of Interstate Milk Shippers, as those ratings existed on July 1, 1994, are hereby adopted by reference. A copy of those ratings may be obtained from the United States Food and Drug Administration Milk Safety Branch, HFS-626, 200 C Street, Washington, D.C. 20204, at no charge.

     5. If the publication adopted pursuant to subsection 4 is revised, the Administrator of the Division shall review the revision to determine its suitability for this State. If the Administrator of the Division determines that the revision is not suitable for this State, he or she shall give notice within 30 days after the effective date of the revision. If the Administrator of the Division does not give notice within 30 days, the revision becomes part of the publication adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 4.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 10-14-82; A 9-15-94)