26. Workers should be trained on good aquatic animal health and welfare management practices to ensure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities in maintaining aquatic animal health and welfare in aquaculture.
36. Workers should be trained in good hygienic practices to ensure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities for protecting aquaculture products from contamination and deterioration.
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as well as the modernized Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) of this rule changed some provisions that used to be nonbinding, such as education and training, which are now binding. Management is now required to ensure that all employees who manufacture, process, pack or hold food are qualified to perform their assigned duties. Such employees also must have the necessary combination of education, training, and/or experience necessary to manufacture, process, pack, or hold food that is clean and safe. Individuals must receive training in the principles of food hygiene and food safety, including the importance of employee health and hygiene as appropriate to the food, the facility and the individual's assigned duties (FR Doc. 80-55907 2015).
The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) provides seafood HACCP training and certification for HACCP instructors. AFDO is a regulatory organization that connects food and medical-products safety stakeholders and impacts food and drug regulatory development by shaping science-based rules and regulations to protect public health.
Merck Animal Health’s Aqua Care365® program provides free online training resulting in a certificate of completion for producers and employees to ensure fish workers have an understanding of normal fish behavior and can handle and treat fish with the best quality care. The training covers sea pen handling including oxygen, fasting, crowding, sampling, sedation and anesthesia, euthanasia, and fish examination to signs of stress and disease.
From "A National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Research" prepared by the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Aquaculture (NSTC 2022):
Goal 1. Develop Economic Growth through Aquaculture
Objective 1.3: Educate and train a skilled, diverse, and inclusive aquaculture workforce
The Nation needs an aquaculture workforce that represents all levels of education. Currently, employers have difficulty recruiting candidates who have the skills and expertise required to raise aquatic animals. To plan for the aquaculture workforce of the future it is imperative to prepare current and future workers with skills derived from aquaculture-specific training and education that enhance their expertise and capacity for implementing state-of-the-art practices.
The following actions will support aquaculture workforce development. The agencies listed below will support or conduct R&D activities or consult with science programs to identify research priorities and form science-based policy.
Action 1.3.1 DOC NOAA (SG, NMFS) and USDA (NIFA) will support educational opportunities to improve production practices, facilitate regulatory compliance, improve decision-making, and enhance communications.
Action 1.3.2 DOC NOAA (SG) will assess the trends of various educational backgrounds (postsecondary, community college, trade schools, and graduate education) to inform strategies that address the shortage of a skilled aquaculture workforce.
Action 1.3.3 USDA (NIFA) and DOC NOAA (SG) will support the expansion of public and private training programs, externships, and apprenticeships to provide the relevant skills to support industry needs.
§ 8309 Veterinary accreditation program
(a) In general. The Secretary may establish a veterinary accreditation program that is consistent with this chapter, including the establishment of standards of conduct for accredited veterinarians.
(b) Consultation
The Secretary shall consult with State animal health officials and veterinary professionals regarding the establishment of the veterinary accreditation program.
(c) Suspension or revocation of accreditation
(1) In general
The Secretary may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record, suspend or revoke the accreditation of any veterinarian accredited under this title who violates this chapter.
§ 350g Hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls
(o) Definitions
For purposes of this section:
(3) Preventive controls
The term "preventive controls" means those risk-based, reasonably appropriate procedures, practices, and processes that a person knowledgeable about the safe manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding of food would employ to significantly minimize or prevent the hazards identified under the hazard analysis conducted under subsection (b) and that are consistent with the current scientific understanding of safe food manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding at the time of the analysis. Those procedures, practices, and processes may include the following:
(B) Supervisor, manager, and employee hygiene training.
§ 608 Sanitary inspection and regulation of slaughtering and packing establishments; rejection of adulterated meat or meat food products
The Secretary shall cause to be made, by experts in sanitation or by other competent inspectors, such inspection of all slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishments in which amenable species are slaughtered and the meat and meat food products thereof are prepared for commerce as may be necessary to inform himself concerning the sanitary conditions of the same, and to prescribe the rules and regulations of sanitation under which such establishments shall be maintained; and where the sanitary conditions of any such establishment are such that the meat or meat food products are rendered adulterated, he shall refuse to allow said meat or meat food products to be labeled, marked, stamped or tagged as "inspected and passed."
§ 1121 Congressional declaration of policy
(c) Purpose
It is the purpose of the Congress to achieve the objective of this subchapter by extending and strengthening the national sea grant program, initially established in 1966, to promote integrated research, education, training, and extension services and activities in fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
§ 1126 Sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes
(a) Designation
(2) The Secretary may designate an institution, or an association or alliance of two or more such institutions, as a sea grant college if the institution, association, or alliance-
(B) maintains a program of research, extension services, training, and education in fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
Subchapter I Research and Related Programs
§ 1251 Congressional declaration of goals and policy
(a) Restoration and maintenance of chemical, physical and biological integrity of Nation's waters; national goals for achievement of objective
The objective of this chapter is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters...
(b) Congressional recognition, preservation, and protection of primary responsibilities and rights of States
It is the policy of the Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution, to plan the development and use (including restoration, preservation, and enhancement) of land and water resources, and to consult with the Administrator in the exercise of his authority under this chapter...
Subchapter II General Powers and Duties: Part B Federal-State Cooperation
§ 243 General grant of authority for cooperation
(b) Comprehensive and continuing planning; training of personnel for State and local health work; fees
The Secretary shall encourage cooperative activities between the States with respect to comprehensive and continuing planning as to their current and future health needs, the establishment and maintenance of adequate public health services, and otherwise carrying out public health activities. The Secretary is also authorized to train personnel for State and local health work. The Secretary may charge only private entities reasonable fees for the training of their personnel under the preceding sentence.
§ 289d Animals in Research
(c) Assurances required in application or contract proposal; reasons for use of animals; notice and comment requirements for promulgation of regulations.
The Director of NIH shall require each applicant for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement involving research on animals which is administered by the National Institutes of Health or any national research institute to include in its application or contract proposal, submitted after the expiration of the twelve-month period beginning on November 20, 1985—
(1) assurances satisfactory to the Director of NIH that—
(B) scientists, animal technicians, and other personnel involved with animal care, treatment, and use by the applicant have available to them instruction or training in the humane practice of animal maintenance and experimentation, and the concept, availability, and use of research or testing methods that limit the use of animals or limit animal distress;
§ 161.1 Statement of purpose; requirements and application procedures for accreditation.
(a) This subchapter concerns a program administered by APHIS to accredit veterinarians and thereby authorize them to perform, on behalf of APHIS, certain activities specified in this chapter. This program is intended to ensure that an adequate number of qualified veterinarians are available in the United States to perform such activities.
(e) Accreditation requirements. The Administrator is hereby authorized to accredit a veterinarian when he or she determines that:
(1) The veterinarian is a graduate with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine or an equivalent degree (any degree that qualifies the holder to be licensed by a State to practice veterinary medicine) from a college of veterinary medicine;
(2) The veterinarian is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State in which the veterinarian wishes to perform accredited duties. An unlicensed veterinarian is legally able to practice veterinary medicine in a State provided that the veterinarian is granted written authorization by that State's veterinary licensing authority or given legal authority through State statute to provide veterinary services for a veterinary employer (such as a cooperative, corporation, laboratory, or other institution recognized by the State authority but not involving contact with animals owned by the public, or a college or school of veterinary medicine). Such authorizations may limit accredited duties to specific geographical areas and/or activities within the State. APHIS will confirm the licensing or legal status of the applicant by contacting the State board of veterinary medical examiners or any similar State organization that maintains records of veterinarians licensed or otherwise legally able to practice in a State;
(3) The veterinarian has completed initial accreditation training, using content provided by APHIS;
(h) Authorization to perform duties. An accredited veterinarian may not perform accredited duties in a State until after receiving written authorization from APHIS. If a Category I accredited veterinarian completes the necessary training requirements and becomes a Category II accredited veterinarian, the veterinarian may not perform Category II accredited duties in a State until after receiving written authorization from APHIS.
§ 1.910 What training requirements apply to carriers engaged in transportation operations?
(a) When the carrier and shipper have agreed in a written contract that the carrier is responsible, in whole or in part, for the sanitary conditions during transportation operations, the carrier must provide adequate training to personnel engaged in transportation operations that provides an awareness of potential food safety problems that may occur during food transportation, basic sanitary transportation practices to address those potential problems, and the responsibilities of the carrier under this part. The training must be provided upon hiring and as needed thereafter.
(b) Carriers must establish and maintain records documenting the training described in paragraph (a) of this section. Such records must include the date of the training, the type of training, and the person(s) trained. These records are subject to the records requirements of § 1.912(c).
At a minimum, the following functions shall be performed by an individual who has successfully completed training in the application of HACCP principles to fish and fishery product processing at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or who is otherwise qualified through job experience to perform these functions. Job experience will qualify an individual to perform these functions if it has provided knowledge at least equivalent to that provided through the standardized curriculum.
(a) Developing a HACCP plan, which could include adapting a model or generic-type HACCP plan, that is appropriate for a specific processor, in order to meet the requirements of § 123.6(b);
(b) Reassessing and modifying the HACCP plan in accordance with the corrective action procedures specified in § 123.7(c)(5), the HACCP plan in accordance with the verification activities specified in § 123.8(a)(1), and the hazard analysis in accordance with the verification activities specified in § 123.8(c); and
(c) Performing the record review required by § 123.8(a)(3); The trained individual need not be an employee of the processor.
Subpart A - General Provisions
§ 507.4 Qualifications of individuals who manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal food.
(a) § 507.4 Qualifications of individuals who manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal food.
(a)
(1) The management of an establishment must ensure that all individuals who manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal food subject to subparts B and F of this part are qualified to perform their assigned duties; and
(2) The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility must ensure that all individuals who manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal food subject to subparts C, D, E, or F of this part are qualified to perform their assigned duties.
(b) Each individual engaged in manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding animal food (including temporary and seasonal personnel) or in the supervision thereof must:
(1) Be a qualified individual as that term is defined in § 507.3, i.e., have the education, training, or experience (or a combination thereof) necessary to manufacture, process, pack, or hold safe animal food as appropriate to the individual's assigned duties; and
(2) Receive training in the principles of animal food hygiene and animal food safety, including the importance of employee health and personal hygiene, as appropriate to the animal food, the facility and the individual's assigned duties.
(c) Responsibility for ensuring compliance by individuals with the requirements of this part must be clearly assigned to supervisory personnel who have the education, training, or experience (or a combination thereof) necessary to supervise the production of safe animal food.
(d) Records that document training required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section must be established and maintained and are subject to the recordkeeping requirements in subpart F of this part.
Subpart A Flow-Through and Recirculating Systems Subcategory
§ 451.11 Effluent limitations attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT).
Except as provided in 40 CFR 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart must meet the following requirements, expressed as practices (or any modification to these requirements as determined by the permitting authority based on its exercise of its best professional judgment) representing the application of BPT:
(e) Training. The permittee must:
(1) In order to ensure the proper clean-up and disposal of spilled material adequately train all relevant facility personnel in spill prevention and how to respond in the event of a spill.
(2) Train staff on the proper operation and cleaning of production and wastewater treatment systems including training in feeding procedures and proper use of equipment.
Subpart B - Net Pen Subcategory
§ 451.21 Effluent limitations attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT).
Except as provided in 40 CFR 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart must meet the following requirements, expressed as practices (or any modification to these requirements as determined by the permitting authority based on its exercise of its best professional judgment) representing the application of BPT:
(h) Training. The permittee must:
(1) In order to ensure the proper clean-up and disposal of spilled material adequately train all relevant facility personnel in spill prevention and how to respond in the event of a spill.
(2) Train staff on the proper operation and cleaning of production systems including training in feeding procedures and proper use of equipment.
Chapter 2: Animal Care and Use Program
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Personnel Management
Training and Education
All personnel involved with the care and use of animals must be adequately educated, trained, and/or qualified in basic principles of laboratory
animal science to help ensure high-quality science and animal well-being.
Veterinary and Other Professional Staff Veterinarians providing clinical and/or Program oversight and support must have the experience, training, and expertise necessary to appropriately evaluate the health and wellbeing of the species used in the context of the animal use at the institution. Veterinarians providing broad Program direction should be trained or have relevant experience in laboratory animal facility administration and management.
Animal Care Personnel Personnel caring for animals should be appropriately trained (see Appendix A, Education), and the institution should provide for formal and/or on-the-job training to facilitate effective implementation of the Program and the humane care and use of animals. Staff should receive training and/or have the experience to complete the tasks for which they are responsible.
The Research Team The institution should provide appropriate education and training to members of research teams—including principal investigators, study directors, research technicians, postdoctoral fellows, students, and visiting scientists...
The IACUC It is the institution’s responsibility to ensure that IACUC members are provided with training opportunities to understand their work and role.
PROGRAM OVERSIGHT
The Role of the IACUC
Protocol Review
The animal use protocol is a detailed description of the proposed use of laboratory animals. The following topics should be considered in the preparation of the protocol by the researcher and its review by the IACUC:
• rationale and purpose of the proposed use of animals
• a clear and concise sequential description of the procedures involving the use of animals that is easily understood by all members of the committee
• availability or appropriateness of the use of less invasive procedures, other species, isolated organ preparation, cell or tissue culture, or computer simulation (see Appendix A, Alternatives)
• justification of the species and number of animals proposed; whenever possible, the number of animals and experimental group sizes should be statistically justified (e.g., provision of a power analysis; see Appendix A, Experimental Design and Statistics)
• unnecessary duplication of experiments
• nonstandard housing and husbandry requirements
• impact of the proposed procedures on the animals’ well-being
• appropriate sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia (indices of pain or invasiveness might aid in the preparation and review of protocols; see Appendix A, Anesthesia, Pain, and Surgery)
• conduct of surgical procedures, including multiple operative procedures
• postprocedural care and observation (e.g., inclusion of post-treatment or postsurgical animal assessment forms)
• description and rationale for anticipated or selected endpoints
• criteria and process for timely intervention, removal of animals from a study, or euthanasia if painful or stressful outcomes are anticipated
• method of euthanasia or disposition of animals, including planning for care of long-lived species after study completion
• adequacy of training and experience of personnel in the procedures used, and roles and responsibilities of the personnel involved
• use of hazardous materials and provision of a safe working environment.
Chapter 3: Environment, Housing, and Management
Fish, amphibians, and reptiles are poikilothermic animals: their core temperature varies with environmental conditions and they have limited ability (compared with birds and mammals) to metabolically maintain core temperature. The majority of poikilothermic laboratory animals are aquatic species—for example, fish and most amphibians—although some, such as reptiles and certain amphibian species, are terrestrial. Personnel working with aquatic animals should be familiar with management implications, e.g., the importance of providing appropriate temperature ranges for basic physiologic function.
AQUATIC ANIMALS
Aquatic Environment
Water Quality
... Staff managing aquatic systems need to be trained in biologically relevant aspects of water chemistry, how water quality parameters may affect animal health and well-being, how to monitor water quality results, and how water quality may affect life support system function (e.g., biologic filtration).
Aquatic Management
Behavior and Social Management
... The use of appropriate nets by well-trained personnel can reduce skin damage and thus stress...
Chapter 4: Veterinary Care
The veterinary care program is the responsibility of the attending veterinarian (AV), who is certified or has training or experience in laboratory animal science and medicine or is otherwise qualified in the care of the species being used. Some aspects of the veterinary care program can be conducted by persons other than a veterinarian, but a mechanism for direct and frequent communication should be established to ensure that timely and accurate information is conveyed to the responsible veterinarian about issues associated with animal health, behavior, and well-being, and that appropriate treatment or euthanasia is administered. The AV should provide guidance to investigators and all personnel involved in the care and use of animals to ensure appropriate husbandry, handling, medical treatment, immobilization, sedation, analgesia, anesthesia, and euthanasia. In addition, the AV should provide guidance and oversight to surgery programs and perioperative care involving animals.
ANIMAL PROCUREMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
Transportation of Animals
Movement of animals within or between sites or institutions should be planned and coordinated by responsible and well-trained persons at the sending and receiving sites to minimize animal transit time or delays in receipt...
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Surveillance, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Control of Disease
All animals should be observed for signs of illness, injury, or abnormal behavior by a person trained to recognize such signs.
CLINICAL CARE AND MANAGEMENT
Healthy, well-cared-for animals are a prerequisite for good-quality animal-based science. The structure of the veterinary care program, including the number of qualified veterinarians, should be appropriate to fulfill the program‘s requirements, which will vary by institution, species used, and the nature of the animal use. To be effective in providing clinical care, the veterinarian should be familiar with the species and various uses of animals in the institutional research, teaching, testing, or production programs and have access to medical and experimental treatment records.
SURGERY
Successful surgical outcomes require appropriate attention to presurgical planning, personnel training, anesthesia, aseptic and surgical technique, assessment of animal well-being, appropriate use of analgesics, and animal physiologic status during all phases of a protocol involving surgery and postoperative care (see Appendix A, Anesthesia, Pain, and Surgery).
Training
Researchers conducting surgical procedures must have appropriate training to ensure that good surgical technique is practiced ... Training may have to be tailored to accommodate the wide range of educational backgrounds frequently encountered in research settings.
IV. SUBSTANCE OF AGREEMENT
A. FDA agrees to:
6. Support or provide shellfish sanitation training, seminars, technical assistance, and scientific research as resources permit. FDA will make every effort to maintain a current scientific basis of the ISSP guidelines and standards.
SEC. II Model Ordinance
Chapter VIII. Control of Shellfish Harvesting
Requirements for Harvesters
.01 General
B. Each harvester shall obtain Authority approved training at an interval to be determined by the Authority not to exceed five (5) years. The training shall include required harvest, handling, and transportation practices as determined by the Authority. A harvester shall be allowed ninety (90) days following initial licensing to obtain the required education.
(1) A harvester shall obtain proof of completion of the required training. Proof of training obtained by the harvester shall be presented to the Authority prior to certification, recertification, or licensing.
(2) At a minimum, one (1) individual involved in the shellfish operations shall obtain the required training.
Chapter X. General Requirements for Dealers
.04 Certification Requirements
A. General.
(1) No person shall act as a dealer prior to obtaining certification.
(2) Any person who wants to be a dealer shall:
(a) Make application to the Authority for certification;
(b) Have and implement a HACCP Plan, and have a program of sanitation monitoring
and record keeping in compliance with 21 CFR 123 as it appears in the Federal
Register of December 18, 1995, except for the requirement for harvester identification
on a dealer's tag.
(c) Ensure that all individuals who manufacture, process, pack, or hold food obtain
training in accordance with 21 CFR 117.4. A dealer shall be allowed thirty (30) days
following initial hiring of a new employee to provide the required education.
(i) Proof of training for all employees shall be presented to the Authority prior to
certification, recertification, or licensing.
(ii) The dealer shall maintain the record of the completed training.
Chapter XI. Shucking and Packing
.03 Other Model Ordinance Requirements
H. Supervision.
(3) All supervisors shall be:
(a) Trained in proper food handling techniques and food protection principles; and
(b) Knowledgeable of personal hygiene and sanitary practices.
(4) The dealer shall require:
(a) Supervisors to monitor employee hygiene practices, including handwashing, eating, and smoking at work stations, and storing personal items or clothing.
(b) Supervisors to assure that proper sanitary practices are implemented, including:
(i) Plant and equipment clean-up;
(ii) Rapid product handling; and
(iii) Shellfish protection from contamination.
(c) Supervisors to not allow unauthorized persons in those portions of the facilities where shellfish are stored, handled, processed, or packaged or food handling equipment, utensils, and packaging materials are cleaned or stored.
(d) All employees to be trained in proper food handling and personal hygiene practices.
Chapter XII. Repacking of Shucked Shellfish
.03 Other Model Ordinance Requirements
H. Supervision.
(3) All supervisors shall be:
(a) Trained in proper food handling techniques and food protection principles; and
(b) Knowledgeable of personal hygiene and sanitary practices.
(4) The dealer shall require:
(a) Supervisors to monitor employee hygiene practices, including handwashing, eating, and smoking at work stations, and storing personal items or clothing.
(b) Supervisors to assure that proper sanitary practices are implemented, including:
(i) Plant and equipment clean-up;
(ii) Rapid product handling; and
(iii) Shellfish protection from contamination.
(c) Supervisors to not allow unauthorized persons in those portions of the facilities where shellfish are stored, handled, processed, or packaged or food handling equipment, utensils, and packaging materials are cleaned or stored.
(d) All employees to be trained in proper food handling and personal hygiene practices.
Chapter XIII. Shellstock Shipping
.03 Other Model Ordinance Requirements
H. Supervision.
(3) All supervisors shall be:
(a) Trained in proper food handling techniques and food protection principles; and
(b) Knowledgeable of personal hygiene and sanitary practices.
(4) The dealer shall require:
(a) Supervisors to monitor employee hygiene practices, including handwashing, eating, and smoking at work stations, and storing personal items or clothing.
(b) Supervisors to assure that proper sanitary practices are implemented, including:
(i) Plant and equipment clean-up;
(ii) Rapid product handling; and
(iii) Shellfish protection from contamination.
(c) Supervisors to not allow unauthorized persons in those portions of the facilities where shellfish are stored, handled, processed, or packaged or food handling equipment, utensils, and packaging materials are cleaned or stored.
(d) All employees to be trained in proper food handling and personal hygiene practices.
Chapter XIV. Reshipping
.03 Other Model Ordinance Requirements
H. Supervision.
(3) All supervisors shall be:
(a) Trained in proper food handling techniques and food protection principles; and
(b) Knowledgeable of personal hygiene and sanitary practices.
(4) The dealer shall require:
(a) Supervisors to monitor employee hygiene practices, including handwashing, eating, and smoking at work stations, and storing personal items or clothing.
(b) Supervisors to assure that proper sanitary practices are implemented, including:
(i) Plant and equipment clean-up;
(ii) Rapid product handling; and
(iii) Shellfish protection from contamination.
(c) Supervisors to not allow unauthorized persons in those portions of the facilities where shellfish are stored, handled, processed, or packaged or food handling equipment, utensils, and packaging materials are cleaned or stored.
(d) All employees to be trained in proper food handling and personal hygiene practices.
Chapter XV. Depuration
.03 Other Model Ordinance Requirements
H. Supervision.
(3) All supervisors shall be:
(a) Trained in proper food handling techniques and food protection principles; and
(b) Knowledgeable of personal hygiene and sanitary practices.
(4) The dealer shall require:
(a) Supervisors to monitor employee hygiene practices, including handwashing, eating, and smoking at work stations, and storing personal items or clothing.
(b) Supervisors to assure that proper sanitary practices are implemented, including:
(i) Plant and equipment clean-up;
(ii) Rapid product handling; and
(iii) Shellfish protection from contamination.
(c) Supervisors to not allow unauthorized persons in those portions of the facilities where shellfish are stored, handled, processed, or packaged or food handling equipment, utensils, and packaging materials are cleaned or stored.
(d) All employees to be trained in proper food handling and personal hygiene practices.
NSTC. 2022. A National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Research. Prepared by the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Aquaculture. February 2022. Available at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/animal-production-and-protection/aquaculture/docs/national-strategic-plan-federal-aquaculture-research/
This page was last updated 22 March 2023.