FLORIDA TOMATO REGULATION

Transcription

1 FLORIDA TOMATO REGULATION AFDO Annual Educational Conference June 11, 2008 Dr. Marion Aller, Director Division of Food Safety FL Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services

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3 BACKGROUND 12 Outbreaks associated with fresh tomatoes, 1840 illnesses OH, SC, States implicated: FL, VA, OH, SC, CA, GA (Industry) Attempted regulation via Marketing Order Approached FDACS 2006; law enacted 2007

4 Legislative Authority - Food Establishment includes tomato packing houses but does not include any other establishments that pack - Provides authority to enhance the food safety of tomatoes and establish and adopt requirements for enhancing food safety

5 Tomato Regulation Rule adopted Spring, 2008 effective July 1, 2008 Two Divisions involved! Inspections performed as necessary to verify compliance, minimum once yearly Dept reimbursed $75/hour

6 Tomato Regulation Permit fee for Packing Houses Adopts Best Practices Manual Exemptions Tomatoes, sold on premises or farmers in farmer s s market if < two 25 pound boxes per consumer Charitable contributions Violations subject to Penalties under Food Safety Law

7 Best Practices Manual Contains both requirements and recommendations References existing guidance documents (e.g. Commodity Specific Guidelines for Tomatoes; FDA Guide to Minimize Microbial Hazards, Food Safety Tool Kit for Fresh Produce )

8 Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and Greenhouses

9 Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and Greenhouses Variety of recommendations regarding prior land use, adjacent land use, animal exclusion Requires pest control program, including removal of harborage Requires routine review

10 Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and Greenhouses Irrigation Water Must meet E.coli standard for recreational water Must document source, delivery system Water used in foliar applications must meet microbial standards for potability Testing frequency requirements

11 Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and Greenhouses Field Sanitation / Worker Hygiene Sanitation facilities must meet state/federal regulations Recommended reassignment of workers w/ certain symptoms of illness Recommended training/education and documentation

12 Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and Greenhouses Crop Production Practices References existing laws for fertilizer / pesticide applications Prohibits use of uncomposted manures Requires documentation of composting method, date of composting, date of application Foliar applications must use water meeting microbial standards for potability

13 Best Practices Manual Part A: Harvest Farms and Greenhouses Recommendation for training contractors/crews, culling Eliminates Field Pack w/o microbial reduction procedure Requires cleaning/sanitizing food contact surfaces, record keeping

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15 Best Practices Manual Part B: Packing Houses

16 Best Practices Manual Part B: Packing Houses Subject to applicable portions of Food Safety Sanitation Regulation Requires written SSOPs Provisions for employee hygiene practices / toilets/ handwash facilities Water must meet microbial standards for potability

17 Best Practices Manual Part B: Dump Tank Packing Houses Water temp 10 o above pulp temp Cleaned, water changed daily Minimum 150 ppm free chlorine, maximum contact time 2 min, ph Monitoring, written records required

18 Best Practices Manual Part B: Packing Houses Provisions for storage, ripening rooms, chemical usage, pest control Requires inspection of transportation vehicles prior to loading Prohibits reuse of final packing containers Requires positive lot identification, name/address of producer or packer

19 Florida Tomato Regulation: Summary

20 Florida Tomato Regulation: Summary Breaking new ground NOT EASY! Significant industry support Audit for both regulatory requirements AND adoption of recommended practices First year outreach and education

21 CREDITS Thank you: - Capt. Thomas Hill, FDA - Dr. Martha Roberts, UF/IFAS for photographs!

22 THANK YOU Dr. Marion Aller, Director Division of Food Safety FL Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services