Food > Fish and Seafood > Shellfish Sanitation > Manual of Operations 

FOREWORD

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The Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) Manual of Operations is an essential reference document for government staff involved with duties related to the classification and patrolling of shellfish harvesting areas and the harvesting, processing and distribution of shellfish. The manual has been compiled through input from regional staff of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Environment Canada (EC). To facilitate the application of the Canada/United States Shellfish Agreement of 1948, the manual incorporates some material from the United States' National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP), Manual of Operations, which is applicable to the Canadian program. Although some administrative and technical differences exist between the CSSP and the NSSP manuals, the Programs are equivalent in providing reasonable assurance that bivalve molluscs are safe for consumption.

The manual outlines the authorities (acts and regulations), policies and procedures which apply to the Canadian program and which will be used to evaluate regional activities associated with the Shellfish Sanitation Program. The manual will be reviewed on a regular basis and amended when necessary to ensure that the policies and procedures remain up-to-date.

This manual is also integrally linked to the Facilities Inspection Manual, published and maintained by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Facilities Inspection Manual sets forth the requirements for Registration, Inspection, Audit and Enforcement of seafood processing facilities, including shellfish facilities, that come under the jurisdiction of the Fish Inspection Regulations. The Facilities Inspection Manual also describes how each facility must design and implement their own Quality Management Program (which includes Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles) and how the CFIA assesses compliance through regulatory verification.

Enquiries concerning processing and distribution should be directed to:

• Senior Policy Analyst - CSSP
  Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  59 Camelot Drive
  Nepean, Ontario
  K1A 0Y9

Enquiries concerning the classification of growing areas should be directed to:

• Director, Marine Environment Branch
  Environmental Protection Service
  Environment Canada
  351 St. Joseph Blvd.
  Ottawa, ON
  K1A 0H3

Enquiries concerning patrolling and harvesting should be directed to:

• Enforcement Branch
  Conservation and Protection Directorate
  Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  200 Kent Street
  Ottawa, ON
  K1A 0E6

This manual is available to the fish processing industry and other interested parties upon request.