20041224_CXP_004e

CAC/RCP4Page1of8RECOMMENDEDINTERNATIONALCODEOFHYGIENICPRACTICEFORDESICCATEDCOCONUT(CAC/RCP4-1971)SECTIONI-SCOPEThefollowingcodeofhygienicpracticeappliestodesiccatedcoconut,thedriedproductpreparedforhumanconsumptionwithoutrequiringfurtherprocessingwhichisobtainedbyshreddingorotherwisecomminutingtheparedkernelofcoconuts,thefruitofthepalm,Cocosnucifera.SECTIONII-DEFINITIONSA.Coconuts-coconutsconsistofanouterskin(greenorbrownwhenharvested)enclosingathickfibrouscoatingorhusk;insidethehuskisawoodyshellwhichenclosesthekernelandwhichisseparatedfromitbyabrownskin.Theparedkernelconsistsofasolidwhitelayerenclosinganaqueousliquidknownascoconutwater.B.Coconutmeat-whitesolidlayerofthekernel.C.Dehusking-theremovalofthehusk,leavingtheshellintact.D.Hatcheting-theremovaloftheshell.E.Paring-theremovalofthebrownskinaroundthekernel.SECTIONIII-RAWMATERIALREQUIREMENTSA.EnvironmentalSanitationinGrowingandFoodProductionAreas(1)Sanitarydisposalofhumanandanimalwastes.Adequateprecautionshouldbetakentoensurethathumanandanimalwastesaredisposedofinsuchamannerasnottoconstituteapublichealthorhygienichazardandextremecareshouldbetakentoprotectproductsfromcontaminationwiththesewastes,particularlythoseproductsthatmaybeconsumedwithoutheattreatment.(2)Animal,plantpestanddiseasecontrol.Wherecontrolmeasuresareundertaken,treatmentwithchemical,biologicalorphysicalagentsshouldbedoneonlyinaccordancewiththerecommendationsoftheappropriateofficialagency,byorunderthedirectsupervisionofpersonnelwithathoroughunderstandingofthehazardsinvolved,includingthepossibilityoftoxicresiduesbeingretainedbythecrop.B.SanitaryHarvestingandFoodProduction(1)Sanitarytechniques.Harvestingandproductionoperations,methodsandproceduresshouldbecleanandsanitary.(2)Protectionofproductfromcontamination.Afterharvesting,cleanandsanitarymethodsshouldbeobservedtoprotectagainstcontaminationofthenutsduringtheprocessofripeninganddehusking.Followingdehusking,specialprecautionsarenecessarytoensurethatcontaminationdoesnotoccur.CAC/RCP4Page2of8C.Transportation(1)Facilities.Conveyancesfortransportingtheharvestedcrop,whichmayhavethehuskremovedontheplantation,shouldbeadequateforthepurposeandshouldbeofsuchmaterialandconstructionaswillpermitthoroughcleaningandshouldbesocleanedandmaintainedasnottoconstituteasourceofcontaminationtothenuts.(2)Handlingprocedures.Allhandlingproceduresshouldbesuchaswillpreventtheproductfrombeingcontaminated.Extremecareshouldbetakenintransportingdehuskedcoconutstopreventspoilageordeterioration.SECTIONIV-PLANTFACILITIESANDOPERATINGREQUIREMENTSA.PlantConstructionandLayout(1)Location,sizeandsanitarydesign.Thebuildingsandsurroundingarea:-shouldbesuchascanbekeptreasonablyfreeofobjectionableodours,smoke,dust,orothercontamination;-shouldbeofsufficientsizeforthepurposeintendedwithoutcrowdingofequipmentorpersonnel;-shouldbeofsoundconstructionandkeptingoodrepair;-shouldbeofsuchconstructionastoprotectagainsttheentranceandharbouringofinsects,birdsorvermin;-shouldbesodesignedastopermiteasyandadequatecleaning.Specialprecautionsshouldbetakenintheshredding,desiccating,andpackingsectionstoprotectagainsttheentryofbirds,insectsandverminandforthispurposeallopeningsshouldbecoveredwithperforatedmetalgauzeorothersuitableprotectivecovering.Separateandadequatespaceshouldbeprovidedforthestorageofnutsawaitingmanufacture,shellawaitingdisposal,rejectednuts,firewood,etc.Floorsshouldbeconstructedofmaterialwhichisnotcapableofsupportingmicrobialgrowth,andshouldbehardsurfaced.Theyshouldbedesignedandsodrainedastofacilitateeffectivecleaning.CAC/RCP4Page3of8(2)Sanitaryfacilitiesandcontrols(a)Separationofprocesses.Thehusk,ifitisnotremovedinthegrowingarea,shouldberemovedinaplaceseparatefromthefactory.Deshuskednutsshouldbereceivedintothefactorybuildings,andtheprocessesofhatcheting,paring,andwashingofthecoconutmeatshouldbecarriedoutinaseparatesectionfromthesubsequentprocesses.Thereshouldbenodirectaccessfromthehatcheting,paring,andwashingsectionstotheothersections.Thesectionsshouldbesoarrangedthatthecoconutpassesfromthehatcheting,paring,andwashingsectionsthroughtothepackingroomwithoutretracingitspathorpassingthroughanareausedforancillaryactivities.Precautionsshouldbetakentopreventcontaminationofshredding,desiccating,andpackingsectionsofthefactorywithdust.Separateroomsorcompartmentsshouldbeprovidedforthestorageofinediblematerialssuchasfuelandlubricants.Thefoodhandlingareashouldbecompletelyseparatedfromanyofthepremisesusedaslivingquarters.(b)Watersupply.Anamplesupplyofhotandcoldwatershouldbeavailableandanadequatesupplyofhotwaterwherenecessary.Thewatersupplyshouldbeofpotablequality.StandardsofpotabilityshallnotbelessthanthosecontainedintheInternationalStandardsforDrinkingWater,WorldHealthOrganization,1971.Nohuskpitfortherettingofhusksshouldbelocatedwithin100metres(300feet)ofanywellfromwhichwaterisdrawnforuseinthefactory.(c)Auxiliarywatersupply.Wherenon-potablewaterisused-forsuchpurposesasfirecontrol-itmustbecarriedincompletelyseparatelines,identifiedpreferablybycolourandwithnocross-connectionorback-siphonagewiththeli