The Gulf Oyster Industry Council
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The Gulf Oyster Industry Council

TABLE 5: TIME - TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS

Activity Frequency & Method of Audit
Audit time of first shellstock harvested Alabama: Noted during inspections
Florida: From time to time in processing facilities as part of HACCP inspections.
Louisiana: A Harvester/Dealer Time/Temperature Log Sheet is required to be completed by both the harvester and the first certified dealer to document compliance with time to refrigeration requirements during April through October. Enforced by the LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Office of Public Health, Commercial Seafood Program.
Mississippi: Daily through individual oyster trip tickets, done at check stations and at random by Marine Police Officers.
Texas: Dealers are requested to keep records; audit at time of inspection.
State mandated more stringent icing or refrigeration requirements dockside than required in Model Ordinance Options 1,2, or 3; compliance level Alabama: During June, July, and August, Alabama limits harvest time to 6 hours.
Florida: During June, July, August and September, Florida requires 6 hours from time of harvest until refrigeration instead of 10 hours (more Stringent than Option 1).
Mississippi: All dealers required to place shellstock under mechanical refrigeration immediately upon receipt (more stringent than Option 1).
Dealers voluntarily meet more stringent icing or refrigeration requirements Florida: Harvesters commonly reach their bag limits prior to the 6 hour harvest limit and dealers commonly place shellstock under refrigeration as soon as product is received.
Mississippi: Not applicable; all dealers are required to place all shellstock under mechanical refrigeration immediately
State plans to work with dealers to obtain voluntary use of more stringent icing or refrigeration requirements. Alabama: Will implement whatever is recommended in the ISSC Consumer Education Plan
Florida: Will be part of Florida's voluntary Vibrio vulnificus Risk Management Plan.
Mississippi: Already more stringent.
State plans to have demonstration projects with dealers to investigate the effects on shelf-life and variations in refrigeration effectiveness as a result of seasonal differences Florida: Will be part of Florida's voluntary Vibrio vulnificus Risk Management Plan
Mississippi: Continually strive to ensure the high quality of MS product by making improvements
State plans to offer incentives to harvesters to add refrigeration or icing capacity to harvest boats Mississippi: Marine Resources is open to discussion on this point
Activity Frequency & Method of Audit
Harvesters voluntarily ice or refrigerate shellstock Louisiana: About 5% of the harvesters use a walk-in refrigerator.
Mississippi: Harvesters are required to shade the shellstock May 1 through September 30.
State plans to work with harvesters to obtain voluntary icing or refrigeration of shellstock on harvest boats Mississippi: Marine Resources Shellfish Bureau is seeking funds to investigate this issue.
State plans to have demonstration projects with harvesters to investigate the effects on shelf-life and variations in refrigeration effectiveness as a result of seasonal differences Mississippi: Marine Resources Shellfish Bureau is seeking funds to investigate this issue.
State routinely audits dealers for compliance with the requirements of Model Ordinance Chapter IX Transportation, .05 Shipping Times Alabama: Conducted during routine inspections
Florida: Audit made during processing facility inspections and at Agricultural roadside inspection stations.
Louisiana: Audit done as part of routine inspections by agents from the Louisiana Departments of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Health and Hospitals, Commercial Seafood Program
Mississippi: Done by quarterly random sampling by Department of Marine Resources, Shellfish Bureau; Marine Patrol officers also check randomly.
Texas: Routine inspection activity