597.020 Shellfish processors; regulation.
597.020 Shellfish processors; regulation.
(1) The department is authorized to adopt by rule regulations, specifications, and codes relating to sanitary practices for catching, cultivating, handling, processing, packaging, preserving, canning, smoking, and storing of oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and crabs. The department is also authorized to license shellfish processors who handle oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and crabs when such activities relate to quality control, sanitary, and public health practices pursuant to this section and chapter 500. The department is also authorized to license or certify, for a fee determined by rule, facilities used for processing oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and crabs, to levy an administrative fine of up to $1,000 per violation per day or to suspend or revoke such licenses or certificates upon satisfactory evidence of any violation of rules adopted pursuant to this section, and to seize and destroy any adulterated or misbranded shellfish products as defined by rule.
(2) A shellfish processing plant certification license is required to operate any facility in which oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, or crabs are processed, including but not limited to: an oyster, clam, mussel, or scallop cannery; a shell stock dealership; an oyster, clam, mussel, or scallop shucking plant; an oyster, clam, mussel, or scallop repacking plant; an oyster, clam, mussel, or scallop controlled purification plant; or a crab or soft-shell crab processing or shedding plant.
(3) The department may suspend or revoke any shellfish processing plant certification license upon satisfactory evidence that the licensee has violated any regulation, specification, or code adopted under this section and may seize and destroy any shellfish product which is defined by rule to be an adulterated or misbranded shellfish product.
(4) Any license or certification authorized and issued under this chapter shall automatically expire on June 30 of each year.
History. s. 1, ch. 65-110; ss. 25, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 83-134; s. 2, ch. 84-121; ss. 4, 5, ch. 86-219; ss. 5, 19, ch. 86-240; s. 218, ch. 94-356; s. 13, ch. 96-247; s. 44, ch. 99-245; s. 32, ch. 2000-364; s. 42, ch. 2002-295.
Note. Former s. 370.071.