Subchapter E. SHUCKING AREA AND EQUIPMENT
Sec.
49.51. Shucking.
49.52. Shucking benches and tables.
49.53. Utensils and equipment construction.
49.54. Bactericidal treatment of utensils and equipment.
49.55. Equipment and utensil handling and storage.
49.56. General maintenance.§ 49.51. Shucking.
(a) Only clean, live shellstock, kept separate from different sources, maintained at the required temperature, and received from an approved source, shall be shucked. Shellfish with badly broken shells shall be discarded.
(b) Shellfish shall be shucked in a manner that will not subject the shucked meat to contamination.
(c) The use of ‘‘dip’’ buckets for hand or knife rinsing is prohibited.
(d) A shellfish shucker may not go into or through the packing room for any purpose, except when the shucker operates in a dual shucking packing capacity. If the shucker is operating in a dual capacity, the shucker shall first change to clean clothing and thoroughly wash his hands and exposed portions of his arms.
(e) Shells from which shellfish meats have been removed, and other nonedible materials shall be removed promptly from the shucking area and disposed of consistent with § 49.46 (relating to garbage and refuse).
Authority The provisions of this § 49.51 amended under the act of May 23, 1945 (P. L. 926, No. 369) (35 P. S. § § 655.1—655.13); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 510-17 and 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 49.51 adopted September 8, 1971, effective September 9, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 1828; amended December 14, 1990, effective December 15, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6155; amended October 13, 2006, effective October 14, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 6285. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (217583) to (217584).
§ 49.52. Shucking benches and tables.
(a) Shucking benches and tables shall be designed and constructed of impervious, noncorrosive material, smooth and free from cracks and crevices, and sloped to a drain. Benches shall drain completely and rapidly, and drainage shall be directed away from stored shellfish.
(b) Shucking blocks shall be of solid piece construction, easily cleanable, fabricated from safe material and free from cracks and crevices.
Authority The provisions of this § 49.52 amended under the act of May 23, 1945 (P. L. 926, No. 369) (35 P. S. § § 655.1—655.13); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 510-17 and 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 49.52 adopted September 8, 1971, effective September 9, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 1828; amended December 14, 1990, effective December 15, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6155. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (4731).
§ 49.53. Utensils and equipment construction.
(a) Food contact surfaces of utensils and equipment, including those used for the handling of ice, must be designed to be easily cleaned, kept in good repair and constructed of safe material.
(b) The ‘‘Shellfish Industry Equipment Construction Guides,’’ developed for use with the Public Health Service-States-Industry Cooperative Program for the Certification of Interstate Shellfish Shippers, as appended to the ‘‘Guide for the Control of Molluscan Shellfish’’ (developed under the purview of the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference and published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; Public Health Services; Food and Drug Administration) is incorporated by reference. The ‘‘Shellfish Industry Equipment Construction Guide’’ can be viewed at www.cfsan.fda.gov/[tilde ]ear/nss2-43a.html.
(c) Equipment and utensils must be designed, installed and operated in accordance with the ‘‘Shellfish Industry Equipment Construction Guide,’’ and the standards and criteria established by the National Sanitation Foundation, unless otherwise established by this chapter.
(d) Devices which use compressed air to circulate wash water around and through the product, must be properly designed and constructed as to be easily dismantled for cleaning, examination and repair. The design and construction will be approved by the Department. Blowers shall follow the guidelines of the ‘‘Shellfish Industry Equipment Construction Guide.’’
(e) Single service articles or containers must be made from clean, sanitary, safe materials and may not impart odors, color or taste, or contribute to the contamination of shellfish. Articles and packages intended for single service use may not be reused.
(f) Pots, pans and utensil washers must be designed, constructed, installed, maintained and operated to comply with the manufacturer’s instructions and in accordance with the applicable standards for commercial spray-type washing machines established by the National Sanitation Foundation.
Authority The provisions of this § 49.53 amended under the act of May 23, 1945 (P. L. 926, No. 369) (35 P. S. § § 655.1—655.13); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 510-17 and 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 49.53 adopted September 8, 1971, effective September 9, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 1828; amended December 14, 1990, effective December 15, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6155; amended October 13, 2006, effective October 14, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 6285. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (217584) to (217585).
§ 49.54. Bactericidal treatment of utensils and equipment.
(a) Adequate cleaning facilities, including three-compartment sinks, or utensil washing machines, brushes, detergents, sanitizers, hot water and pressure hoses shall be available for use within the shellfish facility for proper cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and utensils.
(b) Shucking benches and stools, shucking blocks, tables, skimmers, blowers, colanders, buckets or other equipment used in the processing operation shall be cleaned and sanitized as frequently as necessary during and at the end of each day’s operation.
(c) If there is a need for a slop sink or device to discard liquid waste, the sink or device shall be provided in addition to the three-compartment sink. Cleaning wastes may not be emptied into sinks used for hand washing, or the processing of shellfish or the cleaning and sanitizing of utensils.
(d) A three-compartment sink shall be used for the manual washing and sanitizing of equipment and utensils. Equipment and utensils shall be thoroughly washed in a warm detergent solution which is kept reasonably clean, rinsed free of the solution and sanitized.
(e) Equipment too large or impractical to treat by the methods in subsection (c) or (d) may be cleaned, followed by spraying or swabbing the equipment with a chemical sanitizing solution of at least twice the minimum strength required for the particular sanitizing solution when used for immersion sanitization. This may be accomplished by either of the following systems:
(i) A clean-out-of-place system (C.O.P.) that allows the equipment to be moved (for cleaning purposes) from the position in which it is ordinarily used.
(ii) A central cleaning system that pipes a supply of hot or cold water, with or without chemicals, to a number of cleaning stations placed throughout the shellfish processing area.
(f) Cleaning compounds and sanitizing agents shall be safe and adequate under use conditions. Chemical sanitizing agents may not have concentrations higher than the maximum permitted under 21 CFR 178.1010 (relating to sanitizing solutions) and a test kit or other device that accurately measures the parts per million concentration of the solution shall be provided and used. Sanitizing solutions at effective concentrations established by the United States Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services under 21 CFR 178.1010 are incorporated by reference.
Authority The provisions of this § 49.54 amended under the act of May 23, 1945 (P. L. 926, No. 369) (35 P. S. § § 655.1—655.13); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 510-17 and 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 49.54 adopted September 8, 1971, effective September 9, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 1828; amended December 14, 1990, effective December 15, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6155; amended October 13, 2006, effective October 14, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 6285. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (217585) to (217586).
§ 49.55. Equipment and utensil handling and storage.
(a) Adequate storage facilities shall be provided for equipment and utensils which have been cleaned and sanitized.
(b) Single-use containers and covers shall be kept in original cartons until used, kept clean and dry until used and stored off the floor and away from walls to facilitate inspecting and cleaning the area.
(c) Unused equipment and materials not necessary to facility operation may not be stored in rooms used for shellstock storage, shucking, packing, repacking or in equipment and container store rooms.
Authority The provisions of this § 49.55 issued under the act of May 23, 1945 (P. L. 926, No. 369) (35 P. S. § § 655.1—655.13); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 510-17 and 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 49.55 adopted December 14, 1990, effective December 15, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6155; amended October 13, 2006, effective October 14, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 6285. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (217586) to (217587).
§ 49.56. General maintenance.
(a) Shellfish processing facilities shall be kept in good condition and cleaned as necessary to maintain sanitary conditions. Cleaning operations may not cause contamination of shellfish and food-contact surfaces. Supplies used in the cleaning and sanitizing operations shall be safe and effective for that purpose.
(b) Only authorized equipment and persons shall be permitted in the shellfish processing area. Dogs, cats, birds or other animals or unauthorized persons may not be allowed in areas of the shellfish facility that are used for processing, holding, storing or transporting of shellfish except that patrol dogs accompanying security or police officers are permitted.
Authority The provisions of this § 49.56 amended under the act of May 23, 1945 (P. L. 926, No. 369) (35 P. S. § § 655.1—655.13); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § § 510-17 and 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 49.56 adopted December 14, 1990, effective December 15, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6155; amended October 13, 2006, effective October 14, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 6285. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (217587).
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