PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-282-005 Sanitary control of shellfish -- Minimum performance standards, this proposed rule revision will amend the section to update the reference to the national consensus code for commercial shellfish operations. The reference will change from the 2003 National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Guide for the Control of Molluscan Shellfish (guide) to the 2005 NSSP guide. The state board of health delegated this rule-making activity to the department of health at their meeting on December 13, 2006.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Health, Town Center Two, 111 Israel Road S.E., Room 158, Tumwater, WA, on July 19, 2007, at 11:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: September 20, 2007.
Submit Written Comments to: Jan Jacobs, Office of Shellfish and Water Protection, P.O. Box 47824, Olympia, WA 98504-7824, web site http://www3.doh.wa.gov/policyreview/, fax (360) 236-2257, by July 18, 2007.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jan Jacobs by July 2, 2007, TTY (800) 833-6388 or 711.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Currently, WAC 246-282-005 references the United States Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 2003 NSSP guide, which all shellfish-producing states are required to follow in order to place molluscan shellfish into interstate commerce. FDA has now adopted a 2005 version of the NSSP guide, leaving the current rules out of date. This rule making will amend the section to update the reference to the current code. The document below lists differences between the 2003 and 2005 version of the NSSP guide.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The FDA oversees a cooperative program between the shellfish-producing states and the shellfish industry for the production and processing of shellfish in a manner specified by the NSSP. The FDA evaluates each state's shellfish sanitation control program to ensure compliance with the NSSP. Therefore, an update to WAC 246-282-005 is needed to assure that Washington state remains compliant with the NSSP, and that mulloscan shellfish products from the state can continue to be placed into interstate commerce.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 69.30.030.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 69.30.030.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Jan Jacobs, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA, (360) 236-3316; Implementation and Enforcement: Maryanne Guichard, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA, (360) 236-3391.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Under RCW 19.85.025(3) and 19.85.061, this proposed rule is exempt from the requirements of chapter 19.85 RCW because it adopts national consensus code without material change. The FDA requires shellfish-producing states to follow the NSSP guide in order to place molluscan shellfish into interstate commerce.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(viii), this proposed rule is exempt from the requirements of RCW 34.05.328 because it adopts a national consensus code without material change. The FDA requires shellfish-producing states to follow the NSSP guide in order to place molluscan shellfish into interstate commerce.
June 5, 2007
M. C. Selecky
Secretary of Health
OTS-9727.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-01-055, filed 12/16/05,
effective 1/16/06)
WAC 246-282-005
Minimum performance standards.
(1) Any
person engaged in a shellfish operation or possessing a
commercial quantity of shellfish or any quantity of shellfish
for sale for human consumption must comply with and is subject
to:
(a) The requirements of the ((2003)) 2005 National
Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Guide for the Control of
Molluscan Shellfish, published by the United States Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Food and
Drug Administration (copies available through the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, Shellfish Sanitation Branch, and the
Washington state department of health, office of food safety
and shellfish programs);
(b) The provisions of 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 123 - Fish and Fishery Products, adopted December 18, 1995, by the United States Food and Drug Administration, regarding Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans (copies available through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Seafood, and the Washington state department of health, office of food safety and shellfish programs); and
(c) All other provisions of this chapter.
(2) If a requirement of the NSSP Guide for the Control of Molluscan Shellfish or a provision of 21 CFR, Part 123, is inconsistent with a provision otherwise established under this chapter or other state law or rule, then the more stringent provision, as determined by the department, will apply.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.30.030. 06-01-055, § 246-282-005, filed 12/16/05, effective 1/16/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 69.30.030 and 43.20.030. 01-04-054, § 246-282-005, filed 2/5/01, effective 3/8/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 69.30.030. 98-18-066, § 246-282-005, filed 8/31/98, effective 10/1/98; 98-03-096, § 246-282-005, filed 1/21/98, effective 2/21/98; 96-18-096, § 246-282-005, filed 9/4/96, effective 10/5/96; 94-23-026, § 246-282-005, filed 11/8/94, effective 12/9/94.]