U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
FDA Prime Connection

FDA/DCP - Raw Molluscan Shellfish
 
 
DATE :    November 17, 1995
 
FROM :    Director, Division of Cooperative Programs (HFS-625)
          Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
 
SUBJ :    Raw Molluscan Shellfish
 
TO   :    Addressees (see below)
 
 
The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition has a
continuing concern about the lack of understanding and
effective enforcement of the National Shellfish Sanitation
Program (NSSP) and FDA Food Code shellfish tagging
requirements.  The purpose of the attached Reminder and
Handout is to review and emphasize information and practices
which are critical components of an effective raw molluscan
shellfish regulatory and trace-back program.
 
In September 1994, the Shellfish Program Implementation Branch
(SPIB) and the Retail Food Protection Branch (RFPB), Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, provided information
regarding shellfish tagging and labeling to over 3000 local,
state, and federal food regulatory agencies.  As a follow up
to that effort, you are being asked to share, duplicate, and
distribute the following to persons whom you believe will most
benefit from the information.
 
     1.   "REMINDER on Molluscan Shellfish"
     2.   Handout entitled "BEFORE BUYING OR SELLING MOLLUSCAN
          SHELLFISH..."
 
Emphasizing molluscan shellstock tagging and tag retention by
all food regulatory agencies and by industry is essential to
ensure that:
 
     1.   inspectors and industry have and use the current
          month's copy of the Interstate Certified Shellfish
          Shippers List (ICSSL);
     2.   inspectors initiate appropriate corrective or
          enforcement action immediately to remove uncertified
          product from commerce;
     3.   retail food service and food store managers receive
          shellstock only from dealers who are listed in the
          ICSSL, or approved by the state;
     4.   retail food service and food store managers ensure
          that shellstock containers are properly tagged when
          received and preserve the shellstock identity and
          source information until the product is sold or
          served; and
     5.   retail food service and food store managers retain
          tags for 90 days, in chronological order, following
          final sale.
 
Additional information regarding the NSSP or ICSSL is
available from your FDA Regional Shellfish Specialist.  For
information regarding the FDA Food Code, contact your FDA
Regional Food Specialist.  Information regarding the NSSP,
ICSSL or Food Code is also available from the Division of
Cooperative Programs at
(202) 205-8140 or by FAX at (202) 205-5560.
 
 
                                        /s/
                                   Thomas L. Schwarz
 
Enclosures
 
Addressees:
Regional Food and Drug Directors
Regional State Programs Branch Directors
Regional Shellfish Specialists
Regional Food Specialists
District Directors
Directors, Inspection Branch
District Seafood Coordinators
Import Branch Coordinators
Consumer Affairs Specialists
 
cc:
Division of Human Resource Development, HFC-60
Division of Federal-State Relations, HFC-150
Division of Imports Operations and Policy, HFC-170
HFS-1 Shank, r/f
HFS-3
HFS-400
HFS-600
HFS-625, Schwarz, r/f
FDA Prime Connection, HFS-625