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Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
12/10/2024

Article 3. Personal Cleanliness

12VAC5-421-130. Clean condition of hands and arms.

Article 3
Personal Cleanliness

Food employees shall keep their hands and exposed portions of their arms clean.P

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.

12VAC5-421-140. Cleaning procedure of hands and arms.

A. Except as specified in subsection D of this section, food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms or surrogate prosthetic devices for hands or arms for at least 20 seconds, using a cleaning compound in a lavatory that is equipped as specified under 12VAC5-421-2190.P

B. Food employees shall use the following cleaning procedure in the order stated to clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms, including surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms:

1. Rinse under clean, running warm water;P

2. Apply an amount of cleaning compound recommended by the cleaning compound manufacturer;P

3. Rub together vigorously for at least 10 to 15 seconds while:

a. Paying particular attention to removing soil from underneath the fingernails during the cleaning procedure;P and

b. Creating friction on the surfaces of the hands and arms or surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms, finger tips, and areas between the fingers;P

4. Thoroughly rinsing under clean, running warm water;P and

5. Immediately follow the cleaning procedure with thorough drying using a method as specified under 12VAC5-421-3030.P

C. To avoid recontaminating their hands or surrogate prosthetic devices, food employees may use disposable paper towels or similar clean barriers when touching surfaces such as manually operated faucet handles on a handwashing sink or the handle of a restroom door.

D. If approved and capable of removing the types of soils encountered in the food operations involved, an automatic handwashing facility may be used by food employees to clean their hands or surrogate prosthetic devices.

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.

12VAC5-421-150. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010.

12VAC5-421-160. When to wash.

Food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms as specified under 12VAC5-421-140 immediately before engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articlesP and:

1. After touching bare human body parts or hair other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms;P

2. After using the toilet room;P

3. After caring for or handling service animals or aquatic animals as allowed under 12VAC5-421-250 B;P

4. Except as specified in 12VAC5-421-220 B, after coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating, or drinking;P

5. After handling soiled equipment or utensils;P

6. During food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks;P

7. When switching between working with raw foods and working with ready-to-eat foods;P

8. Before donning gloves to initiate a task that involves working with foods;P and

9. After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.P

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.

12VAC5-421-170. Where to wash.

Food employees shall clean their hands in a handwashing sink or approved automatic handwashing facility and shall not clean their hands (i) in a sink used for food preparation or utensil washing or (ii) in a service sink or a curbed cleaning facility used for the disposal of mop water and similar liquid waste.Pf

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.

12VAC5-421-180. Hand antiseptics.

A. A hand antiseptic used as a topical application, a hand antiseptic solution used as a hand dip, or a hand antiseptic soap shall:

1. Comply with one of the following:

a. Be an approved drug that is listed in the FDA publication "Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations," 39th Edition, 2019 (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as an approved drug based on safety and effectiveness;Pf or

b. Have active antimicrobial ingredients that are listed in the FDA monograph for OTC (over the counter) Health-Care Antiseptic Drug Products as an antiseptic handwash;Pf

2. Consist only of components which the intended use of each complies with one of the following:

a. A threshold of regulation exemption under 21 CFR 170.39;Pf

b. 21 CFR Part 178, as regulated for use as a food additive with conditions of safe use;Pf

c. A determination of generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Partial listings of substances with food uses that are GRAS may be found in 21 CFR Part 182, 21 CFR 184, or 21 CFR Part 186 for use in contact with food and in FDA's Inventory of GRAS Notices;Pf

d. A prior sanction listed under 21 CFR 181;Pf or

e. A food contact notification that is effective;Pf and

3. Be applied only to hands that are cleaned as specified under 12VAC5-421-140.Pf

B. If a hand antiseptic or a hand antiseptic solution used as a hand dip does not meet the criteria specified in subdivision A 2 of this section, use shall be:

1. Followed by thorough hand rinsing in clean water before hand contact with food or by the use of gloves;Pf or

2. Limited to situations that involve no direct contact with food by the bare hands.Pf

C. A hand antiseptic solution used as a hand dip shall be maintained clean and at a strength equivalent to at least 100 ppm (mg/l) chlorine .Pf

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 18, eff. June 10, 2021.

12VAC5-421-190. Maintenance of fingernails.

A. Food employees shall keep their fingernails trimmed, filed, and maintained so the edges and surfaces are cleanable and not rough.Pf

B. Unless wearing intact gloves in good repair, a food employee shall not wear fingernail polish or artificial nails when working with exposed food.Pf

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 18, eff. June 10, 2021.

12VAC5-421-200. Prohibition of jewelry.

Except for a plain ring such as a wedding band, while preparing food, food employees shall not wear jewelry, including medical information jewelry on their arms and hands.

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.

12VAC5-421-210. Clean condition of outer clothing.

Food employees shall wear clean outer clothing to prevent contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, and single-service and single-use articles.

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.

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