DAR File No. 39950

This rule was published in the December 15, 2015, issue (Vol. 2015, No. 24) of the Utah State Bulletin.


Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services

Rule R70-530

Food Protection

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 39950
Filed: 11/17/2015 05:19:05 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The changes to the rule are to adopt the 2013 FDA Food Code.

Summary of the rule or change:

The changes update the 2009 FDA Food Code to the 2013 Food Code; clean up some wording and organize the sections into an order that helps coordinate with the food code; and some additional changes were made to make the rule consistent with Utah Plumbing Code. Some other basic changes were put in place in order to have consistency with the state and local health departments food service rule.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

  • Title 4, Chapter 5

This rule or change incorporates by reference the following material:

  • Updates 2013 FDA Food Code, published by US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This was just an update, so the state did not and will not incur any costs by adopting the 2013 Food Code.

local governments:

The local health departments have already been working with the 2009 Food Code and they have not and will not incur any costs due to this rule update.

small businesses:

The update to the 2013 and its minimal changes has more cost savings than costs incurred. Some changes to requirements will save industry money. They changed the shelf life from 15 to 30 days for vacuum sealed food products allowing for the longer sell of products.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

These minimal changes will not make a difference in costs or savings to other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

These changes were very minimal. The Food Code is already in place, and with this update there will not be any additional compliance costs.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

These minor changes will not affect fiscal impact of businesses because the changes made to the Food Code of a nature that will not add a financial cost to the business.

LuAnn Adams, Commissioner

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Agriculture and Food
Regulatory Services
350 N REDWOOD RD
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3034

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

  • Kathleen Mathews at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7103, by FAX at 801-538-7126, or by Internet E-mail at kmathews@utah.gov
  • Noel Schvaneveldt at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7108, by FAX at 801-538-7124, or by Internet E-mail at nschvaneveldt@utah.gov
  • Travis Waller at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7150, by FAX at 801-538-7124, or by Internet E-mail at twaller@utah.gov
  • Scott Ericson at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7102, by FAX at 801-538-7126, or by Internet E-mail at sericson@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

01/14/2016

This rule may become effective on:

01/21/2016

Authorized by:

LuAnn Adams, Commissioner

RULE TEXT

R70. Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services.

R70-530. Food Protection.

R70-530-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) Authority.

This rule is promulgated under the authority of Section 4-5-17 UCA.

(2) Purpose.

This rule shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purpose of safeguarding public health and providing to consumers food that is safe, unadulterated, and honestly presented.

 

R70-530-2. Scope.

This rule establishes definitions; sets standards for management and personnel, food operations, equipment, and facilities; and provides for food establishment plan review, inspection, and employee restriction. It shall be used to regulate bakeries, grocery and convenience stores, meat markets, food and grain processors, warehouses and any other establishment meeting the definition of a food establishment.

 

R70-530-3 . Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The food standards, labeling requirements and procedures as specified in 21 CFR, 1 through 200, 2013 edition, 40 CFR 185, April 17, 2012 edition, and 9 CFR 200 to End, January 1, 2012 edition, are incorporated by reference.

(2) The requirements as found in the U.S. Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, Food Code 2013[2009], Chapters 1 through 8[, Annex1,] with the exclusion of Subparagraphs 8-302.14(C)(1),Paragraphs 8-302.14(D) and (E), Paragraph 8-304.11(K), Paragraph 5-203.15(B), Paragraphs 5-402.11(B), (C) and (D); and exclusion of Section 8-905.40, Subparagraphs 8-905.90(A)(1) and (2), Section 8-909.20, Subparagraphs 8-911.10(B)(1) and (2), Annex 1 comprising Parts 8-6 through 8-9 with the exclusion of Section 8-905.40, Subparagraphs 8-905.90(A)(1) and (2), Section 8-909.20, Subparagraphs 8-911.10(B)(1) and (2); and Annex 2, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21, U.S.S. 342, Sec. 402 are adopted and incorporated by reference, [with the exclusion of Sections 8-302.14(C)(2),(D) and (E); ]and with the following additions or amendments:

(a) In Paragraph 1-201.10(B), insert a new subparagraph after subparagraph (b) in subparagraph (2) under "Food Establishment" to read: "(c) A catering operation which is a business entity that operates from a permitted food establishment that contracts with a client for food service to be provided to a client, the client's guests and/or customers at a different location. A catering operation may cook or perform final preparation of foods at the service location. A catering operation does not include routine services offered at the same location, or meals that are individually purchased with the exception of cash bars."

(b) In paragraph-201.10(B), insert a new subparagraph after subparagraph (2) under "Core Item" to read: "(3) "Core Item" will also be referred to as "non-critical" in the state rule."

(c) In [section]Paragraph 1-201.10(B) under "Priority Item ", replace the semicolon and the word "and" at the end of subparagraph (2) with a period; replace the period at the end of subparagraph (3) with "; and"; and insert a new subparagraph after paragraph (3) to read: "(4) 'Priority Item' will also be referred to as 'critical 1' in the state rule."

(d)[(h)] In paragraph[section] 1-201.10 (B) under "Priority Foundation Item, " replace the semicolon and the word "and" at the end of subparagraph (2) with a period; replace the period at the end of subparagraph (3) with,"; and"; and add a new subparagraph after subparagraph (3) to read: "(4) 'Priority foundation item' will also be referred to as 'critical 2' in the state rule."

(e)[(i)] After subparagraph[section] 2-102.11 [paragraph ](17), add a new section to read: "2-102-12 Food Employee Training. Food employees shall be trained in food safety as required under 26-15-5 and shall hold a valid food handler's permit issued by a local health department."

(f) Amend Paragraph 3-201.16 (A) to read: "Except as specified in paragraph (B) of this section, mushroom species picked in the wild shall not be offered for sale or service by a food establishment."

(g) After Paragraph 3-501.17 (G), add a new paragraph to read: "(H) A date marking system that meets the criteria stated in paragraph (A) of this section shall use one of two types of date marks, and that date mark must be used consistently throughout the food establishment. The date mark will either be of the date: (1) before which food must be used as specified in paragraph (A) of this section; or (2) be the date of Day 1."

(h) Amend Subparagraph 3-501.19(B)(2) to read: "(2) Only one time marking scheme may be used, and it must be used consistently throughout the food establishment. The food shall be marked with either: (a) the time the food is removed from temperature control; or (b) the time before which the food shall be -cooked and served, served at any temperature if ready-to-eat, or discarded."

(i) After Paragraph 4-204.123(B), add a section to read: "4-204.124 Restraint of Pressurized Containers.Carbon dioxide, helium or other similar pressurized containers must be restrained or secured to prevent the tanks from falling over."

(j) At the end of section 5-101.12, add: "The process shall be in accordance with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) C651-2005 for disinfection and testing."

(k) [At the end of]Replace section 5-202.13,[add:] with the following: "(A) Where the horizontal distance from the water supply inlet to an adjacent single wall or obstruction is greater than three times the diameter of the inlet, or greater than four times for intersecting walls, an air gap between the water supply inlet and the floor level rim of the plumbing fixture, equipment, or nonfood equipment shall be at least twice the diameter of the water supply inlet and may not be less than 25 millimeters (1 inch). (B) Where the horizontal distance from the water supply inlet to an adjacent single wall or obstruction is less than three times the diameter of the inlet, or less than four times for intersecting walls, an air gap between the water supply inlet and the floor level rim of the plumbing fixture, equipment, or nonfood equipment shall be at least three times the diameter of the water supply inlet and may not be less than 38 millimeters (1.5 inches)." ["Where the distance to the adjacent wall is closer than three pipe diameters, the air gap shall not be less than 1-1/2 inch."]

(l) Amend Paragraph 5-203.15(A) to read: "If not provided with an air gap as specified under Section 5-202.13, an American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) 1022 dual check valve with an intermediate vent shall be installed upstream from a carbonating device and downstream from an copper in the water supply line." [After the reference to the section number "5-202.13" in section 5-203.15 paragraph (A), delete the article "a" and insert: "an American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) 1022".]

(m) Amend Paragraph 5-402.11(A) to read: "A direct connection may not exist between the sewage system and a drain originating from equipment in which food, portable equipment, or utensils are place."[After the reference to paragraph (B) in section 5-402.11 paragraph (A), delete the coma; insert the word "and"; and delete the text, ", and (D)" that follows the reference to paragraph (C).]

[(n) Delete paragraph (D) from section 5-402.11]

(n)[(a)] Amend section 8-103.11 to add:

(D) In addition, a variance from section 3-301.11 may be issued only when:

(1) the variance is limited to a specific task or work station;

(2) the applicant has demonstrated good cause why section 3-301.11 cannot be met;

(3) suitable utensils are used to the fullest extent possible with ready-to-eat foods in the rest of the establishment; and

(4) the applicant can demonstrate active [management]managerial control of this risk factor at all times.

(o)[(d)] Amend section 8-302.14 to renumber (F) to (D), (G) to (E), and (H) to (F).

(p)[(b)] Amend [section]Paragraph 8-304.10(A) to read:

(A) Upon request, the regulatory authority shall provide a copy of the Utah Food Protection Rule[food service sanitation rule] according to the policy of the local regulatory agency.

(q)[(e)] Amend [section]subparagraph 8-401.10 (A)to read: "(A) Except as specified in paragraphs (B) and (C) of this section, the regulatory authority shall inspect a food establishment at least once every 6 months. (B)(2) [to delete the phrase "and at least once every 6 months the establishment is contacted by telephone or other means by the regulatory authority to ensure that the establishment manager and the nature of food operation are not changed."] to read: "The food establishment is assigned a less frequent inspection frequency based on a written risk-based inspection schedule that is being uniformly applied throughout the jurisdiction".

(r)[(f)] Add Paragraph[section] 8-501.10(C) to read: (C) Meeting reporting requirements under Communicable Disease Rule R386-702 and Injury Reporting Rule R386-703.

(s)[(g)] Amend section 8-601.10 to read: Due process and equal protection shall be afforded as required by law in all enforcement and regulatory actions. Enforcement of this Rule shall be in accordance with title 4-2-2(J), Title 4-2-12, and R70-201.

(t)[(o)]Add "8-7 Penalties; 8-701.10 State Construction Code

All parts of the food establishment shall be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to meet the standards of the state construction code adopted by the Utah Legislature under Title 15A UCA. A copy of the construction code is available at the office of the local building inspector."

(3) All references to food that requires time or temperature control for safety, TCS, in this rule are equivalent to references in past editions of the U.S. Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, Food Code to potentially hazardous food, PHF.

 

KEY: food, inspections

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [March 27, 2014]2016

Notice of Continuation: March 7, 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 4-5-17

 


Additional Information

More information about a Notice of Proposed Rule is available online.

The Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Bulletin is the official version. The PDF version of this issue is available at https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull-pdf/2015/b20151215.pdf. The HTML edition of the Bulletin is a convenience copy. Any discrepancy between the PDF version and HTML version is resolved in favor of the PDF version.

Text to be deleted is struck through and surrounded by brackets ([example]). Text to be added is underlined (example).  Older browsers may not depict some or any of these attributes on the screen or when the document is printed.

For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Kathleen Mathews at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7103, by FAX at 801-538-7126, or by Internet E-mail at kmathews@utah.gov; Noel Schvaneveldt at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7108, by FAX at 801-538-7124, or by Internet E-mail at nschvaneveldt@utah.gov; Travis Waller at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7150, by FAX at 801-538-7124, or by Internet E-mail at twaller@utah.gov; Scott Ericson at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7102, by FAX at 801-538-7126, or by Internet E-mail at sericson@utah.gov.  For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules.