82 



- 21 - 

 The Key to ensuring that molluscan shellfish do not carry 

 pollution-borne diseases is the proper classification and 

 monitoring of shellfish growing waters. FDA is responsible for 

 helping design and review the actions States take to classify 

 their waters, states are required to take measures to ensure 

 that illegal harvesting does not occur from closed waters and 

 to certify that shippers operate in a sanitary manner. FDA 

 publishes a monthly shippers list of all certified shippers in 

 participating States. To comply with State food service codes, 

 "receiving" States verify that shellfish come from certified 

 shippers. 



The program has its strengths and weaknesses. FDA's Office of 

 Seafood recently identified several areas in which the States 

 could improve their shellfish programs. This analysis was 

 based on recommendations of the 1991 National Academy of 

 Sciences report on seafood safety and a detailed analysis of 

 the strengths and weaknesses of the procedures in the NSSP 

 Manual of Operations. Areas identified in this analysis 

 included uniform systems for tagging shellfish, effective 

 prosecution of illegal shellfish harvesters, uniform criteria 

 for evaluating patrols of growing areas, and consistent product 

 handling and record retention requirements, as well as specific 

 temperatures for the holding and transporting of these 

 products. These efforts have resulted in the adoption of 



