PRINTER'S NO. 258
No. 232 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY DURHAM, CALTAGIRONE, ITKIN, OLASZ, FREEMAN,
MICHLOVIC, BELARDI, SAURMAN, J. L. WRIGHT, NAHILL, VEON,
TRELLO, CIVERA, SALOOM, PETRONE, E. Z. TAYLOR, KOSINSKI,
FARGO, HECKLER, SCHULER, PERZEL, RAYMOND, HERSHEY, BARLEY AND
MRKONIC, FEBRUARY 1, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 1, 1989
AN ACT
1 Providing for the regulation of the production and handling of
2 ice; licensing ice plants; imposing duties on the Department
3 of Environmental Resources; and providing for civil
4 penalties.
5 The General Assembly declares that only ice protected from
6 contamination should be offered for sale, sold and used in this
7 Commonwealth. Contaminated ice is a danger to the health, safety
8 and welfare of the citizens of this Commonwealth but may exist
9 in the absence of legislation designed to ensure that ice
10 offered for sale to and used by Pennsylvanians is protected from
11 contamination while being manufactured, processed, packaged and
12 stored. It is the intent of the General Assembly to hereinafter
13 set forth such legislation.
14 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15 hereby enacts as follows:
16 Section 1. Short title.
17 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Manufactured
1 Ice Law.
2 Section 2. Definitions.
3 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
4 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
5 context clearly indicates otherwise:
6 "Approved." Acceptable to the Department of Environmental
7 Resources of the Commonwealth, based on its determination of
8 conformance with appropriate standards of good public health
9 practice.
10 "Contamination." Includes, but is not limited to, exposure
11 to or contact with litter; waste; broken glass or refuse;
12 rodents; insects; microorganisms; dust or dirt; dripping,
13 seeping or leaking water or condensate; harmful chemicals;
14 paint; grease; or other foreign matter.
15 "Department." The Department of Environmental Resources of
16 the Commonwealth.
17 "Easily cleanable." Readily accessible for removal of dirt,
18 or of such material and finish and so fabricated that residue
19 may be completely removed by normal cleaning methods.
20 "Employee." A person working in an ice plant or ice
21 production area in a commercial establishment who transports ice
22 or ice containers, who comes in contact with ice equipment, or
23 who engages in ice manufacture, processing, packaging, storage
24 or distribution.
25 "Equipment." Grinders, crushers, chippers, ice makers,
26 shavers, scorers, saws, cubers, can fillers, drop tubes,
27 needles, core sucking devices, conveyors and similar items used
28 in ice plants.
29 "Food contact surface." A surface, including a water line,
30 that is touched by a product or ingredient during processing.
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1 The term includes those surfaces from which water may drain,
2 drip or splash back.
3 "Ice." The product, in any form, obtained as a result of
4 freezing water by mechanical or artificial means.
5 "Ice plant." Any commercial place, premises or establishment
6 where ice is manufactured or processed, packaged, or distributed
7 or offered for sale for human consumption or for use in such a
8 manner that it will come into direct contact with food equipment
9 or utensils or with food or beverage intended for human
10 consumption.
11 "Person." An individual, or a firm, partnership, company,
12 corporation, trustee, association, or other public or private
13 entity.
14 "Processing." Grinding, crushing, flaking, cubing or any
15 other operation which changes the physical characteristics of
16 ice, or packaged ice for human consumption.
17 "Product area." Where ice or its ingredients or packaging
18 materials are handled or stored, and any area related to the
19 manufacturing, packaging, handling or storage of ice intended
20 for sale for human consumption.
21 "Secretary." The Secretary of Environmental Resources of the
22 Commonwealth.
23 "Single-service article." An article, including packaging
24 material, which is intended by the manufacturer, and generally
25 recognized by the public, as being for one usage only, and is
26 then to be discarded.
27 "Utensil." A multiuse can, bucket, tub, pail, cover,
28 container, tong, pick, shovel, scoop or similar item used in the
29 manufacture, handling and transport of ice.
30 Section 3. Ice plant and production area.
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1 The grounds of an ice plant shall be free from conditions
2 which may result in the contamination of ice. Plant buildings,
3 structures and product areas for ice manufacture shall be
4 suitable in size, construction and design to facilitate
5 maintenance and sanitary operations. Ice manufacturing,
6 processing, packaging and storage operations shall be conducted
7 in an enclosed building maintained in a sanitary condition. The
8 building shall protect the ice, ingredients, equipment and
9 utensils from contamination. Ice contact surfaces, including
10 storage bins, conveyors, packaging equipment and hand utensils,
11 shall be kept clean and in good repair. Ice contact surfaces
12 shall be cleaned, using acceptable cleansers and cleaning
13 methods, as often as necessary to insure that no contamination
14 of the product occurs.
15 Section 4. Equipment and utensils.
16 Equipment and utensils used in ice plants or ice production
17 areas shall be of easily cleanable construction, shall be kept
18 clean and in good repair, and shall be handled and stored in a
19 sanitary manner. Materials used as ice-contact surfaces shall be
20 smooth, nontoxic, corrosion resistant and nonabsorbent. Single-
21 service supplies, including packaging, shall be stored,
22 dispensed and handled in a sanitary manner and shall be used
23 only once.
24 Section 5. Handling and labeling of ice.
25 Ice shall be protected from contamination while being
26 manufactured, processed, packaged and stored. Packaged ice
27 products, other than those produced for sale to or use by the
28 public at the premises where produced, shall be labeled clearly
29 to show the name, manufacturer, location of processing plant,
30 source of approved water used and package weight. The label
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1 shall bear the manufacturer's establishment number issued by the
2 department. Packaged ice shall not be less than 2% of its
3 labeled weight.
4 Section 6. Water supply, treatment and testing.
5 (a) Water quality standards.--Ice intended for human
6 consumption and for use in direct contact with water, beverage,
7 food, food equipment or utensils shall meet the bacteriological,
8 chemical and physical standards of State and local laws,
9 ordinances and regulations. In addition, the United States
10 Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards and
11 regulations of the Federal Food and Drug Administration shall
12 apply. Water used in ice plants shall be of safe and sanitary
13 quality and drawn from a public or private water supply system
14 which is in conformance with applicable laws and in compliance
15 with applicable standards and regulations.
16 (b) Testing.--
17 (1) Bacteriological, chemical and physical tests shall
18 be conducted and recorded to insure that water used in the
19 manufacture of ice intended for sale for human consumption
20 complies with standards as established by the department.
21 (2) Bacteriological, chemical and physical tests shall
22 be conducted and recorded on the finished ice to insure that
23 ice manufactured for human consumption or for the
24 refrigeration of food products complies with standards as
25 established by the department.
26 Section 7. Transportation.
27 While being transported or delivered, ice shall be protected
28 from contamination. The ice compartment of vehicles used to
29 transport or deliver ice shall be of cleanable material and
30 construction, and shall be kept clean and in good repair.
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1 Section 8. Registration and licensing of ice plants.
2 (a) Registration deadline.--Plants which produce ice which
3 is sold, offered for sale or used in this Commonwealth shall be
4 annually registered and licensed on or before September 1 with
5 the department and shall pay the following fees:
6 (1) For ice plants which manufacture or process ice
7 exclusively for sale to or use by the public on the same
8 premises where the ice is manufactured or processed, a fee of
9 $10 for each machine which manufactures or processes ice.
10 (2) For all ice plants other than those specified in
11 paragraph (1), a fee of $750 for each ice plant or
12 establishment.
13 (b) Registration statement.--The producer's registration
14 statement shall be signed and verified, shall be made on a
15 registration form furnished by the department, and shall contain
16 the following information:
17 (1) The name under which the business is conducted.
18 (2) The address of each place of business in this
19 Commonwealth being registered.
20 (3) If a sole proprietorship, the name of the
21 proprietor; if a partnership, the names of all partners; if a
22 corporation, the date and place of incorporation and name and
23 address of its registered agent in this Commonwealth; and if
24 another type of association, the names of its principals.
25 (4) The names of those individuals in an actual
26 administrative capacity which, in the case of a sole
27 proprietorship, shall be the managing proprietor; in a
28 partnership, the managing partner; in a corporation, the
29 officers and directors; and in another association, those in
30 a managerial capacity.
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1 (5) The number of ice manufacturing or processing
2 machines which manufacture or process ice for sale to or use
3 by the public on the premises where the machine is located.
4 (c) Two or more establishments.--If a producer operates more
5 than one establishment, he shall register each establishment
6 separately by listing the name and address of each establishment
7 on the registration statement.
8 (d) Prelicense inspection.--The applicant shall cooperate
9 with the department in any preregistration inspection of the ice
10 producer's facility which might be deemed necessary.
11 (e) Issuance of license.--The department shall license an
12 ice plant which meets the requirements of this section.
13 (f) Renewal of license.--
14 (1) A producer shall renew its license annually
15 following the requirements of this section.
16 (2) The application for renewal and the fee for each
17 establishment shall be submitted to the department on or
18 before September 1 in accordance with the department
19 procedures set forth in this section.
20 (3) Failure to submit the renewal prior to September 1
21 may subject the food manufacturer to revocation or suspension
22 of the license.
23 (g) Compliance.--Producers shall comply with the minimum
24 standards specified in this law.
25 (h) License revocation.--The department may, after providing
26 notice and an opportunity for hearing, refuse to license an ice
27 plant, or may revoke or suspend the license for violations of
28 the requirements in this law or for interference with the
29 department in the performance of its duty under this law.
30 (i) Civil penalties.--If a person violates this law or a
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1 rule or order adopted or license issued under this law, the
2 department may assess a civil penalty against that person as
3 follows:
4 (1) The penalty may be in an amount not to exceed
5 $10,000 a day for a person who violates this law or a rule,
6 order, license or registration issued under this law.
7 (2) Each day a violation continues may be considered a
8 separate violation for purposes of penalty assessment.
9 (3) In determining the amount of the penalty, the
10 department shall consider:
11 (i) The seriousness of the violation, including, but
12 not limited to, the nature, circumstances, extent and
13 gravity of the prohibited acts and the hazard or
14 potential hazard created to the health or safety of the
15 public.
16 (ii) The history of previous violations.
17 (iii) The amount necessary to deter future
18 violations.
19 (iv) Efforts to correct the violations.
20 (v) Any other matters that justice may require to be
21 considered.
22 Section 9. Out-of-state producers.
23 An out-of-state ice producer may submit adequate proof of
24 approval of an ice plant by the out-of-state agency having
25 jurisdiction over ice plants, pursuant to standards
26 substantially the same as those contained in this act. Upon
27 submission of such proof, the provisions of section 8(a) shall
28 not apply to said producer, provided that the other state
29 provides reciprocal provisions for ice producers located in
30 Pennsylvania.
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1 Section 10. Use of fees and fines.
2 All fees and fines collected pursuant to this act shall be
3 deposited in a restricted receipts account known as the
4 Manufactured Ice Law Enforcement Account, which is hereby
5 created. Moneys deposited in said account shall be annually
6 appropriated by the General Assembly solely for use in the
7 enforcement of the provisions of this act. Any funds
8 appropriated but not spent in a fiscal year shall not lapse, but
9 shall be returned to the fund and shall be available for
10 appropriation in subsequent years.
11 Section 11. Inspections and recalls.
12 The department shall conduct such inspections as are
13 necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. The
14 department may order a recall of ice, prohibit the sale of ice,
15 or undertake any other action necessary to protect the public
16 health and carry out the provisions of this act.
17 Section 12. Rules and regulations.
18 The department shall prescribe rules and regulations
19 necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. The
20 department may establish separate rules and regulations for
21 those ice plants licensed pursuant to section 8(a)(1) and those
22 licensed pursuant to section 8(a)(2).
23 Section 13. Effective date.
24 This act shall take effect immediately.
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