Equipment and Tools subject to Requirements of this Subpart

PSR.25 What equipment and tools are subject to the requirements of the PSR?

As explained in 21 CFR 112.121, equipment and tools subject to the requirements of this subpart are those that are intended to, or likely to, contact covered produce; and those instruments or controls used to measure, regulate, or record conditions to control or prevent the growth of microorganisms of public health significance. Examples include, knives, implements, mechanical harvesters, waxing machinery, cooling equipment (including hydrocoolers), grading belts, sizing equipment, palletizing equipment, equipment used to store or convey harvested produce (such as containers, bins, food-packing material, dump tanks, flumes, and vehicles or other equipment used for transport that are intended to, or likely to, contact covered produce).

DOMESTICATED ANIMALS

PSR.26 I operate a hydroponic greenhouse that is a fully-enclosed building. Is It permissible to have a dog or cat in the greenhouse?

The provisions in subpart L of the  Produce Safety Rule apply to any fully or partially-enclosed buildings used for covered activities, including greenhouses (see 80 FR 74353 at 74491 (Comment/Response 344)). Under Subpart L, domesticated animals in and around a fully-enclosed building are not prohibited, however, you must comply with the requirements of 21 CFR  112.127.  For more information, see the next question.

PSR.27 What requirements apply regarding domesticated animals in and around a fully-enclosed building? 

You must take reasonable precautions to prevent contamination of covered produce, food contact surfaces, and food-packing materials in fully-enclosed buildings with known or reasonably foreseeable hazards from domesticated animals by:
(1) Excluding domesticated animals from fully-enclosed buildings where covered produce, food contact surfaces, or food-packing material is exposed; or
(2) Separating domesticated animals in a fully enclosed building from an area where a covered activity is conducted on covered produce by location, time, or partition. (21 CFR 112.127(a))

Guard or guide dogs may be allowed in some areas of a fully enclosed building if the presence of the dogs is unlikely to result in contamination of produce, food contact surfaces, or food-packing materials. (21 CFR 112.127(b))