A processor shall ensure that each facility meets the
requirements of
18 AAC 34.075 -
18 AAC 34.085 unless a waiver is
approved under
18 AAC 34.915. In addition,
(1) the facility must be adequate in size,
design, and construction to accommodate sanitary processing and storage of
seafood products, and to prevent contamination of seafood products, food
ingredients, food-contact surfaces and food packaging materials; in addition,
(A) the outside walls and the roof
(i) may be made of a flexible material, such
as rubberized nylon, polypropylene, polyester-based vinyl, or nylon-based
vinyl, that is at least 20 mils thick, with the seams heat-welded;
and
(ii) must protect the facility
from weather and the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals;
(B) fixtures, ducts, and pipes
must be designed, or otherwise covered or protected, to prevent drippage or
condensate in an area used for food processing or storage of food, food
ingredients, or food packaging materials;
(C) sleeping or living quarters must be
separated from processing and food or food packaging storage areas by a solid,
stationary floor-to-ceiling wall to prevent direct access from these areas to
the sleeping or living quarters;
(D) light bulbs, glass fixtures, skylights,
or other glass suspended over seafood processing, packaging, or storage areas
must be shielded to protect the seafood from broken glass; and
(E) odors, noxious fumes, excessive dust or
vapors, including steam, must be minimized and controlled to protect product or
process operations;
(2)
the facility must have lighting of at least
(A) 50 footcandles, measured at the work
surface, in areas where
(i) seafood products,
food ingredients, or additives are inspected, sorted, graded, or processed;
and
(ii) processing equipment
control panels and food packaging materials, including tin stock, jars, and
retort pouches, are tested or examined; and
(B) 20 footcandles, evenly distributed to all
other areas not described in (A) of this paragraph, including product holding,
food packaging, food storage, and container cooling areas;
(3) an accurate thermometer must be provided
for each refrigerator, refrigerated brine tank, freezer room, or other
controlled environmental storage unit;
(4) the inside walls in
(A) any area that will likely be splashed
with water or other processing wastes during processing and cleaning must be
made of a solid material that is nonabsorbent, durable, smooth, easily
cleanable, and sealed to the floor; if the solid material is less than the full
height of the wall, the top of the solid material must be sealed to the
wall;
(B) food processing areas,
built-in refrigerators, and freezers used in the processing of seafood products
must be made of tile, sealed or noncorrosive metal, fiberglass, glasply panels,
or another nonabsorbent, durable, smooth, and easily cleanable material
designed for its intended use;
(C)
storage freezers and ingredient storage areas must be easily cleanable and may
be made of wood if the wood is sealed with a visible sealant; and
(D) dry storage areas must be easily
cleanable and may be made of unsealed wood if the walls are cleaned without
using water or another cleaning liquid;
(5) floors in
(A) processing areas where large amounts of
water are used must be durable, smooth, and easily cleanable, must be made of
concrete, sealed or noncorrosive metal, fiberglass, or another suitable
material approved by the department and must be adequately sloped to floor
drains;
(B) refrigerator and
freezer areas that are subject to drippage must be durable, smooth, and easily
cleanable, and must be made of concrete, sealed or noncorrosive metal,
fiberglass, or another suitable material approved by the department;
and
(C) warehouse and storage rooms
used for dry storage must be made of a material that is easily cleanable;
floors may be made of unsealed wood if cleaning methods do not require the use
of water or another liquid;
(6) floor drains are required in areas where
(A) refrigeration or freezer pipes produce
condensate that accumulates;
(B)
normal operations release or discharge water or other liquid waste onto the
floor; or
(C) wastewater could
contaminate a processing area;
(7) the facility and the immediate vicinity
outside of the facility must be
(A) free from
litter, waste, refuse, and uncut weeds or grass that might attract or harbor
pests, including rodents and insects, using pest control procedures required by
21 C.F.R.
110.35(c), adopted by
reference in
18 AAC 34.010; and
(B) adequately drained to
(i) prevent contamination through seepage or
footborne filth; or
(ii) avoid
creating a breeding place for insects or microorganisms.