THE JUICE Products Association (JPA), a trade association representing fruit and juice processors, packers, extractors, brokers and marketers, has a resource for tank cleaning facilities, JPA Model Tanker Wash Guidelines for the Fruit Juice Industry.
The guidelines were developed to assist the fruit juice industry in maintaining sanitation and safety of bulk fruit juices during transportation and describe four tanker wash protocols (Types 1, 2, 3 and 4) that are utilized, depending on the last product hauled in the tanker. The guidelines also include a list of acceptable food commodities that may be transported in foodgrade tank trailers.
JPA points out that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has selected the guidelines as the model for tank wash facilities in Florida's food industry. In addition, the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) used the guidelines as one prototype in developing its model food transportation guideline for all foods.
In a related program, several years ago the Florida Citrus Processors Association (FCPA) developed a program for implementing standardized audits of those tanker wash facilities that adhere to the requirements in the guidelines. Management of the program transitioned to JPA in mid-2006. Under the program, tank wash/sanitation facilities are audited every 18 months by industry-approved auditors and must comply with the requirements. In order to be recognized as an approved facility, a rating of “meets requirements” or “meets requirements with conditions” must be achieved. The tanker wash audit database at tankerwash.org contains a list of approved tank truck wash facilities, approved auditors, the Tanker Wash Facility Audit, Frequently Asked Questions, and the wash facilities guidelines.
For more information, contact Patricia Faison at [email protected] or telephone 404-252-3663. The guidelines are available on the JPA Web site at juiceproducts.org.