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CHAPTER 10 - POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR CONTROLLED RELAYING AND DEPURATION

(Please see Section 1 - Introduction for Adobe download file)

10.3 Short Term Container Relay Protocols

All companies planning to carry out short term container relay (less than fourteen days), must undergo a process verification with the CFIA (see Sections 10.1 and 10.2 for criteria).

10.3.1 Harvest Areas

Harvest areas must meet the requirements identified in Section 10.2.1.

10.3.2 Storage and Container Requirements

As in 10.2.2e)i) and 10.2.2e)ii)2)-5).

10.3.3 Shellstock Separation Requirements

Defined lots of relayed shellstock are separated by at least 10 metres from other shellstock on the lease during decontamination to avoid potential cross contamination.

10.3.4 Laboratory

As in 10.2.4.

10.3.5 Operational Controls

As in Section 10.2.5, a) through d), where applicable.

In the case of aquaculture leases, the criteria outlined in Chapter 12 must also be met.

10.3.6 Records

Up-to-date QMP records must be maintained at all times and be available for Compliance Verification purposes. Examples of records may be found in Annex 10A.

10.3.7 Process Verification for Short Term Container Relaying

The facility must prove with a minimum of 20 lots that the relay process is consistently cleansing the shellfish. In this assessment, each lot used must have zero hour results greater than or equal to a geometric mean of 230 faecal coliform/100 g., with no sample < 100. The number and location of samples to be drawn at zero, mid-cycle, and final hours will be approved by CFIA. The services of an independent statistician may be used. The intent of these samples is to determine that all locations in the lot facilitate decontamination.

The maximum zero hour limit will be 2,300 faecal coliforms/100 g meat. If any zero hour sample exceeds this limit, the lot shall be relayed for a minimum of 14 days.

CFIA will establish a minimum relay time of not less than 6 days and a maximum coliform level for each individual system.

10.3.8 Routine Container Relay Monitoring

One sample from every lot must be analysed for faecal coliforms at the final hour of decontamination.

1. Processor/grower records and bacteriological analysis results must be made available on request for QMP Compliance Verification purposes.
2. An annual review of the data will be required before the permit will be renewed.
3. Any laboratory used to perform the necessary analyses is required to be approved by a Lab Evaluation Officer.

10.3.9 Process Deviations

If the lot exceeds the species limit in Table 10.2, the following options are available:

1. use an approved modified schedule of not less than 14 days;
2. heat process the product if faecal coliforms are less than 4000;
3. relay to another approved area; or
4. have shellstock disposed of for other than human consumption.

10.3.10 Release

Product that meets the final hour limits in Table 10.2 may be released to market. Product shall remain under the control of the establishment until released. During process verification, the product may be released to the market, by CFIA, upon receipt of acceptable final hour bacteriological results as indicated in Table 10.2.

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