TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Opening Statement by Jerome H. Svore, Director, National Center for Urban and Industrial Health, Public Health Service ... Welcome Remarks by William H. Stewart, M.D., Surgeon General, FOREWORD The 1968 Shellfish Sanitation Workshop was arranged by the Public Health Service as part of its administrative role in the State-IndustryPublic Health Service National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and in accordance with the recommendations of the 1964 Workshop. The objectives of the Workshop were: (1) discuss administrative and technical problems; (2) review current research and technical developments; and (3) consider numerous proposals for changes in the Manual of Recommended Practice for Sanitary Control of the Shellfish Industry. Invitations to attend the Workshop were extended to all State and Territorial Health Departments, Marine Fishery Departments in the coastal States, Health Departments of major cities, Federal agencies involved in estuarine activities, the Governments of Canada and Japan, and other interested countries and the shellfish industry trade organizations. Workshop was attended by 240 persons representing 51 agencies or organizations. The In order to facilitate orderly management of a conference of this size and afford more effective and thorough coverage of the many diverse technical considerations, traditional conference procedures were modified to permit utilization of the task force concept. Under this arrangement, the Conference was divided into twelve working sections or task forces. Each section was chaired by a State representative and charged with a specific problem or proposal. The following Proceedings are based on the prepared papers and a verbatim transcript. The Proceedings have been reviewed for accuracy by the various speakers. We extend our most sincere appreciation to the many persons whose efforts contributed to the success of this undertaking. George Morrison, Chief Marine Health Operations Water Supply and Sea Resources Program Industrial Health U. S. Public Health Service SIXTH NATIONAL SHELLFISH SANITATION WORKSHOP SUMMARY The Water Supply and Sea Resources Program, National Center for Urban and Industrial Health, U.S. Public Health Service, conducted a successful 6th National Shellfish Sanitation Workshop in Washington, D.C., February 7-9, 1968. Workshops are sponsored periodically by the P.H.S. as part of its administrative role in the State-IndustryP.H.S. National Shellfish Sanitation Program for the purpose of discussing technical and administrative developments which need to be considered jointly by the three program participants. Some 240 registered participants representing the shellfish producing states, the shellfish industry, the currently participating countries of Canada and Japan, and observers from France and Colombia were in attendance. Also participating, were representatives from various other Federal and State agencies, and colleges and universities throughout the country. The Conference was opened with a welcoming address by the Surgeon General, Dr. William H. Stewart. Dr. Stewart noted the success of the 43-year-old P.H.S. program in fulfilling its two-fold purpose of public health and public confidence in a unique product, and the sound basis of cooperative State-Federal-Industry partnership which contributed to the effective functioning of the National Program. Dr. Richard A. Prindle, Director, Bureau of Disease Prevention and Environmental Control, presented the keynote address setting the tone of workshop procedure for objective analysis and resolution of program problems. Emphasizing the responsibility and important consequences for themselves and others of their deliberations, Dr. Prindle charged the conferees to keep uppermost in their thoughts that the National Shellfish Sanitation Program was first and foremost a public health program provided to protect the consumer, and beneficial to the shellfish industry only if the consumer was protected. He also directed them to determine the standard of control or operation needed to protect the consumer, and only then turn to seek the most economical ways to meet the standards. The Conference was conducted on the task force principle and divided into 12 separate work groups, each chaired by a State representative and charged with a specific problem or task. Major accomplishments of the Workshop were as follows: 1. Endorsed the task force concept for conducting future workshops as the most 2. Endorsed continued use of the present market standards for shucked eastern oysters 3. Adopted new standard of refrigeration for shucked shellfish requiring cooling to 45° 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. or less within two hours after delivery to the packing room with storage not to exceed 40° F. Endorsed and encouraged application of the depuration process of shellfish. Recommended further revision and/or research necessary to complete guides for trace 10:15 10:30 11:00 11:30 Call to Order Conference Chairman: Mr. Jerome H. Svore, Director, National Center for Urban and Industrial Welcome Honorable William H. Stewart, Surgeon General, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health, Keynote Address Dr. Richard A. Prindle, Assistant Surgeon General, and Director, Bureau of Disease Prevention and Environmental Control, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C. Epidemiological Report Dr. Ronald F. Johnson, Chief, Hepatitis Unit, Viral Diseases Section, Epidemiology Program, Charge to the Task Forces Mr. George Morrison, Chief, Marine Health Operations, Water Supply and Sea Resources Program, |