Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 35 - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry › Chapter 37 - Food Safety › Subchapter 11 - Exotic Livestock and Exotic Livestock Products › Part 15 - SANITATION › Section 35:37-11-26 - Establishments; requirements for sanitary conditions

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a) Official establishments shall be
				  maintained in sanitary condition, and to this end the requirements of this
				  Section shall be complied with.
(b)
				  There shall be abundant light of good quality and well distributed, and
				  sufficient ventilation for all rooms and compartments to insure sanitary
				  condition.
(c) There shall be an
				  efficient drainage and plumbing system for the establishment and premises, and
				  all drains and gutters shall be properly installed with traps and vents
				  approved by inspection services.
(d) There shall be an ample supply of clean
				  potable water with adequate facilities for its distribution in the plant and
				  its protection against contamination and pollution. This shall include sealing
				  of wells as prescribed by methods and rules as adopted by the Oklahoma Health
				  Department. To assure the potability of the water, a sample from its source and
				  at various places inside the plant must be taken for analyses by the Oklahoma
				  Department of Agriculture laboratory or by the appropriate local health
				  department laboratories. Water samples shall be obtained at least one time a
				  year for approved municipal or approved rural water systems, and at least two
				  times a year (each six months) for private water systems. A certificate of
				  water potability acceptance must be issued by the appropriate testing
				  laboratory and it must be posted in a conspicuous place in the plant or
				  available for review as approved by the appropriate district
				  supervisor.
(e) Reuse of water will
				  be approved only to the extent permitted by the Oklahoma State Health
				  Department.
(f) An ample supply of
				  clean potable water of not less than 180°F. shall be furnished and used for
				  the cleaning of inspection equipment, floors, walls, and other equipment that
				  are subject to contamination by the dressing or handling of diseased carcasses,
				  their viscera, and other parts. In lieu of 180°F. water for cleaning and
				  sanitizing mobile slaughter establishments, acceptable chemical sanitizing
				  agents may be used as specified in Part 3 of OAC 35:37-3. The requirements for
				  180°F. water, however, shall not be waived for plants processing exotic
				  livestock and exotic livestock products. To determine compliance with these
				  requirements, conveniently located thermometers shall be installed by the
				  operator of the official establishment to show the temperature of the water at
				  the point of use.
(g) Ample hot
				  water for general cleaning of rooms and equipment shall be delivered under
				  adequate pressure to conveniently located outlets and shall be of a temperature
				  as to accomplish a thorough cleanup when used with approved detergents and
				  other cleaning agents.
(h) The
				  floors, walls, ceilings, partitions, posts, doors, and other parts of all
				  structures shall be of materials, construction, and finish as will make them
				  susceptible to proper and adequate cleaning. The floors shall be watertight.
				  The rooms and compartments used for edible product shall be separate and
				  distinct from those used for inedible product.
(i) Rails shall be located, and passageway
				  space provided, so that exposed product does not come in contact with posts,
				  walls, and other fixed parts of the building, or with barrels, boxes, and other
				  containers trafficked through holding and operating areas. Exposed product
				  shall not be placed or stored beneath carcasses in coolers or holding
				  areas.
(j) The rooms and
				  compartments in which any product is prepared or handled shall be free from
				  dust and from odors from dressing and toilet rooms, catch basins, hide cellars,
				  casing rooms, inedible tank and fertilizer rooms, and livestock pens.
(k) Every practicable precaution shall be
				  taken to exclude flies, rats, mice, and other vermin from official
				  establishments. The use of poisons for any purpose in rooms or compartments
				  where any unpacked product is stored or handled is forbidden, except under
				  restrictions and precautions as are prescribed by the Board in specific cases.
				  The use of insecticides, rodenticides, and similar pest control substances in
				  hide cellars, inedible product departments, outbuildings, or similar places, or
				  in store rooms containing canned or tierced products is not forbidden but only
				  those approved by the Board may be used. So-called rat viruses shall not be
				  used in any part of an establishment or the premises thereof.
(l) Dogs, cats, and other pets shall be
				  excluded from the interior of official establishments; however, dogs may be
				  permitted on the outer premises for guard purposes.
Added at 21 Ok Reg
					 1181, eff 5-27-04