Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 51 - PUBLIC HEALTH-SANITARY CODE
Part IX - Marine and Fresh Water Animal Food Products
Chapter 3 - Preparation and Handling of Seafood for Market
Section IX-330 - Refrigeration Requirements for Shellstock Harvested during the months of May through October for Raw Consumption only by Persons Located within the State of Louisiana

A. Any shellstock harvested in the months of May through October for raw consumption only by persons within the state of Louisiana shall be placed under mechanical refrigeration at an air temperature not to exceed 45°F within 5.0 hours from the time harvesting begins and such shellstock shall not be sold for use outside of the state of Louisiana.

B. The Department of Health and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have cooperatively developed a single tag which purpose is to immediately and specifically indicate by its fuchsia (pinkish-purple) color that the oysters contained in the sack or box have been harvested following the requirements of this Section. Language shall be printed on the tag which shall explicitly state "oysters contained herein must not be sold for use outside of the state of Louisiana" and the oysters contained in the sack or box (excluding post-harvest process product) shall not be sold for use outside of the state of Louisiana. This tag shall be in addition to any tag(s) required under §323 of this Part.

C. Oysters being processed (shucked or frozen) under this Section must identify on the packing container that this product cannot be sold for use outside of the state of Louisiana.

D. When harvesting for oysters which will be harvested and tagged under the requirements of this Section (i.e., oysters to be sold for raw consumption only by persons located within the state of Louisiana), each harvester shall contact and notify the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries prior to leaving port. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall be notified by calling 1-800-442-2511.

E. Records relating to oysters which will only be sold for raw consumption within the state of Louisiana shall be completed by both the harvester and dealer(s) and shall be kept separate from records for shellstock product intended for interstate shipment. These records shall be maintained for a period of one year (two years if frozen) and be made readily available for examination by agents of the Department of Health and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Approved log sheets properly completed and maintained, for the current and previous 15 days harvest shall be kept aboard the harvest vessel for immediate examination. A copy of the log sheet form required to be kept and maintained is shown below in §345 of this Part.

F. All oysters on board any vessel actively being utilized for the purpose of intrastate shipments under the conditions of this Section shall be restricted to the use of intrastate [fuchsia (pinkish purple) color)] tags for all oysters contained on that vessel from the time harvesting begins until all oysters are offloaded dockside.

G. In addition to all other required notifications/entries by harvesters prior to the taking of oysters under this Section, the harvester shall legibly document on the required harvester-dealer time temperature log sheet "For Intrastate Shipments Only."