Are there special regulations for robotic milking?
Both in the U.S. and Canada, many of the current regulations for milking and milk handling do not provide for this new technology. As an example, Ontario requires that bulk tanks cool milk to a specified temperature by a specified time after the “end of milking.” Since milking continues 24 hours per day on these farms it is impossible to apply this regulation. Because much of this technology originates in Europe, components do not always meet 3A standards. In many states and provinces robotic milking is being permitted under special permits limited to specific farms to permit field evaluation of the technology. Ontario has recently drafted guidelines specific to these systems. These guidelines include special provisions for buffer tanks used for temporary storage during and after milk pick up, washing and rinsing of continuous use milking systems, and design, location and ventilation of robotic milking “rooms”.
