This International Standard gives general guidelines for inspection and sampling procedures to be used to check the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection methods used in dairy plants and receiving stations, including milk-collection tankers. It deals with — visual inspection, — sampling from plant surfaces (product line, bottle washing equipment, containers, etc.), — re-usable product containers, — air, — sampling of water and aqueous solutions other than those added to the product, and — sampling of raw materials and products. It does not cover equipment normally installed in farms (e.g. milking machinery or refrigerated bulk milk tanks), nor does it deal with the equally important areas of health and hygiene of personnel, factory environment, internal arrangement of the factory, methods of cleaning, packaging materials brought in new from outside (paper, cardboard, plastic, new bottles, etc.), food ingredients and additives, selection of number of units and treatment of the sample in the laboratory. The need for sampling is normally considered in the design of plant. It is important that any devices which are included to enable samples to be taken are so designed and fitted that their use results in representative samples being obtained without any adverse effect on the hygienic condition of the plant (e.g. by introducing dead spots in cleaning circuits). Such design is outside the scope of this International Standard.