Overview

Certified milk graders help to maintain the standard which has made Ontario milk and dairy products among the best in the world.

As a certified bulk tank milk grader, you join the ranks of a group of people responsible for the grading, sampling, measuring and transportation of an acceptable raw product to Ontario processing plants.

Under Ontario regulations outlined in the Milk Act, only certified plant milk graders have the authority to accept or reject raw milk at the plant.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) requires all raw milk in Ontario to be graded prior to:

  • transfer to a tank-truck
  • receipt at a processing plant

All raw milk must be graded by both bulk tank milk graders and plant milk graders prior to receipt at a processing plant.

This summary is for information only. Learn more about the specific details set out in the Milk Act and section 51 of Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products.

Bulk tank milk grader responsibilities

A bulk tank milk grader (BTMG):

  • determines the volume and temperature of milk in farm bulk tanks
  • grades the milk by sight and smell
  • determines if the milk is acceptable or shall be rejected
  • collects a representative sample from the bulk tank
  • is responsible for transferring the milk from the farm bulk tank to the tanktruck if the milk is acceptable
  • is responsible for delivery to processors

Bulk tank milk graders must reject milk that:

  • is not clean
  • has an objectionable flavour or odour
  • shows evidence of being watery, flaky, stringy, bloody, thick or adulterated
  • shows evidence of melted or churned fat floating on the surface of the milk
  • contains any foreign substance
  • has a temperature higher than 10°C (only applies to cow milk)

Bulk tank milk graders must also reject milk if, due to milk house requirements not being met:

  • they are unable to carry out an adequate visual inspection of the milk
  • they are unable to properly assess the flavour or odour of the milk

The BTMG is also responsible for regulatory milk sample delivery to designated sample depots.

Bulk tank milk grader certification

Cow milk

To become a certified BTMG for cow milk, you must pass an OMAFRA-approved certification process. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) administers this certification.

The BTMG certificate is valid for five years. If you become a BTMG, you must complete a refresher course before renewing your certificate every five years.

Goat milk

There are two steps to become a certified BTMG for goat milk:

  1. become an apprentice BTMG
  2. become a certified BTMG

Apprentice BTMG

To become an apprentice BTMG for goat milk, you need to:

  1. submit a completed Application for an Apprentice Goat Bulk Tank Milk Grader Certificate form to OMAFRA
  2. complete an apprentice BTMG performance evaluation, which is conducted by an OMAFRA Food Safety Inspector
  3. register for the next available BTMG course with DFO

Once you have completed the steps above, the OMAFRA Director under the Milk Act will issue you an Apprentice Goat Bulk Tank Milk Grader Certificate, which allows you to perform the duties of an apprentice BTMG.

Certified BTMG

To become a certified BTMG for goat milk, you must:

Once you have completed the steps above, the OMAFRA Director under the Milk Act will issue you a goat BTMG certificate.

The BTMG certificate is valid for five years. You are responsible for completing a refresher course before renewing your certificate and will be contacted by OMAFRA with further details prior to certificate expiry.

Apply for the renewal of a goat bulk tank milk grader certificate.

Food Safety Inspectors conduct routine evaluations of BTMG performance of their duties and responsibilities before certificates are renewed, perform spot checks and respond to complaints.

When your performance evaluation is complete, we will give you a dated and signed Performance Evaluation Report.

Plant milk grader responsibilities

Plant milk graders (PMG) grade and receive cow milk and goat milk delivered to dairy processing plants in Ontario.

Only certified plant milk graders have the authority to accept or reject raw milk at a licensed dairy plant, according to section 50 of O. Reg. 761 under the Milk Act.

A plant milk grader:

  • determines the temperature of milk in a tank-truck
  • grades the milk by sight and smell
  • determines whether the milk is acceptable according to the requirements under Regulation 761

At a plant, milk graders must reject milk that:

  • is not clean
  • has an objectionable flavour or odour
  • shows evidence of being watery, flaky, stringy, bloody, thick or adulterated
  • shows evidence of melted or churned fat floating on the surface of the milk
  • contains any foreign substance or contains an inhibitor when tested by an official method at a laboratory approved by the Director

PMGs may reject milk with a temperature higher than 6°C.

Plant milk grader certification

To become a certified plant milk grader, you must pass the OMAFRA-approved plant milk grader training program offered by the Ontario Dairy Council (ODC).

Once you pass the course:

  • the ODC notifies OMAFRA that you have passed the course
  • the OMAFRA Director under the Milk Act will issue a PMG certificate to you

The certificate is valid for five years. You must complete a refresher course before renewing your certificate.

You should have the certificate available to show to inspectors and bulk tank milk graders if requested.