ABSTRACT
Controlled purification allows the harvest and marketing of shellfish for human consumption which otherwise could not be utilized for food purposes. Increases in controlled purification facilities have resulted from declines in the productivity of approved shellfish growing areas as well as increases in the acreage of shellfish growing areas restricted to harvesting for direct marketing purposes. Although controlled purification is financially beneficial for some that is not the case for state shellfish control agencies with responsibility for monitoring this activity. If controlled purification facilities plan to ship shellfish interstate, the state shellfish control agency must apply to the US Food and Drug Administration for evaluation and approval of the state program. States must keep detailed records of the state controlled purification plan, sanitary survey reports, harvest area water quality data, process verification data, and routine sanitary inspection reports. The establishment and management of and the food and drug administration approved controlled purification program is not a simple task for states.
