Date of Adoption: February 9, 2000.

Purpose: Rule was amended to implement legislation passed by 1999 legislature extending authority for issuance of sanitary certificates to milk processing plants. Rule was also reviewed and language modified for clarity.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-147-010, 16-147-020, and 16-147-030.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 15.36.525 and 69.07.085.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-01-178 on December 22, 1999.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

February 9, 2000

Jim Jesernig

Director

OTS-3401.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 5066, filed 12/27/94, effective 1/27/95)

WAC 16-147-010
((Authority and)) What is the purpose((.)) of this chapter?

((This chapter is promulgated under authority of RCW 69.07.020 and 69.07.085.))      The purpose of this ((rule)) chapter is to establish requirements for ((issuance of)) issuing sanitary certificates to food ((processors)) processing plants and to milk processing plants.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.07.020, 69.07.085.      95-02-016 (Order 5066), § 16-147-010, filed 12/27/94, effective 1/27/95.]

A sanitary certificate is a notarized statement by a responsible food safety official ((that certifies)) certifying that a food processing plant or milk processing plant has been inspected and approved by this department and has been issued a license indicating the same.

((It further certifies that its products to the best of our knowledge are prepared under sanitary conditions, are not harmful and are freely sold in the United States.))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.07.020, 69.07.085.      95-02-016 (Order 5066), § 16-147-020, filed 12/27/94, effective 1/27/95.]

The requirements for obtaining a sanitary certificate are:

(1) All applicants ((for a sanitary certificate)) must ((have current license)) be currently licensed as either a food ((processor)) processing or milk processing plant in Washington state with the department of agriculture under RCW 69.07.040 or 15.36.051.

(2) Sanitary certificate will be issued only to cover products listed on the license application or otherwise approved by the department of agriculture.

(3) Products for certification must not be under embargo or litigation by ((Washington)) the department of agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or other recognized public health authorities.

(4) ((A food processor)) An applicant must not be ((in arrears)) more than ninety days in arrears in paying for previous sanitary certificates issued.

(5) ((A food processor)) Any applicant that requests sanitary certificates must have been inspected by the department of agriculture within the inspection frequency guidelines established by Washington state department of agriculture and must be in substantial compliance with applicable food safety and dairy laws and rules.

(6) The applicant must provide the department with a declaration in a form acceptable to the department.

(7) Sanitary certificates will be in a form approved by the ((Washington state)) department of agriculture ((which)) that specifies the plant location where the products were ((produced)) processed and that the plant was inspected and found in substantial compliance with food safety or dairy laws and rules.      No statements will be made to ((infer)) imply that ((any given)) a product was inspected and passed.

(((7))) (8) Sanitary certificates will be issued ((as soon as possible)) in the order the requests are received.      However advance notice of three business days is required to ensure ((the)) that sanitary certificates will be sent by the date needed.

(((8))) (9) The department will deliver sanitary certificate by U.S. mail service.      Requests for overnight mail or FAX will be allowed, but must be paid for by requester.

(10) Milk processing plants that request sanitary certificates for Grade A products must be in compliance with the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), or Condensed and Dry Milk Ordinance (DMO), as applicable.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.07.020, 69.07.085.      95-02-016 (Order 5066), § 16-147-030, filed 12/27/94, effective 1/27/95.]

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