Chapter: Facilities, Equipment and Design
Section: Building Interior
Sub-Section: F.A.3 Facilities for Inspectors

Elements

The regulatory requirements contained in this guideline will be met when:

F.A.3 (01) The fish processing plant is designed, constructed, equipped, maintained, and operated in a manner that allows inspectors to effectively carry out all inspection activities. (Risk Ranking: Medium)

Rationale

Inspectors play an important role in ensuring that fish processing plants are compliant with food safety regulations. As part of their inspection duties, inspectors assess compliance of fish processing operations and perform related activities such as collecting samples, completing forms, and entering data into a computer. To perform such tasks, inspectors should have adequate space and areas that are suitable for the inspection activity they are performing.

Inspector facilities and work space

Fish processing plants must be designed, constructed, equipped, maintained and operated in a manner that allows inspectors to effectively perform their functions and duties. Ideally, inspectors should have access to a sufficient workspace that includes an electrical outlet (to power their computer) and a storage location for the protection of their equipment and supplies at the plant. This workspace should be adequately dry, heated, ventilated, etc.

To control the potential for cross-contamination, the inspection workspace and storage areas should be separate from rooms or areas where fish products are processed, packaged, labelled, handled, shipped, received or stored.

The fish processing plant must provide access to at least one washroom for use by inspectors, and the washroom(s) must be in good working order. Refer to the “Washroom Facilities, Hand Washing Stations, and Changing Areas” FPG for more information.

Regulatory references

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001; O. Reg. 465/19 s.16 (1)(b), 19, 21 (1), 35 (b)

    1. A fish processing plant must be designed, constructed and equipped in a manner that,
      1. allows for inspectors to effectively perform their functions and duties;
  1. A fish processing plant must have facilities for inspectors that are adequate to allow for the effective performance of the inspection activities carried on at the plant.
    1. A fish processing plant must have access to at least one washroom that is in good working order and that is available for the use of employees and any inspectors present at the plant.
  1. The operator of a fish processing operation in respect of which a licence is required under this Regulation shall ensure that every area of a fish processing plant used by the operation is operated and maintained in a manner that,
    1. allows for inspectors to effectively perform their functions and duties;