NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on January 21, 2010, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants has issued an order.
The department received a Petition for a Routine Variance on January 12, 2010 for subsection 61C-4.010(6), Florida Administrative Code, Paragraph 6-501.115(A), 2001 Food Code from Reggae J’s located in Panama City Beach, FL. The above referenced F.A.C. addresses the requirements that live animals are not to be allowed on the premises of a public food service establishment under the described conditions. They are requesting to have two live, caged birds (Macaws) in the establishment.
The variance request was published on Vol. 36, No. 04, 1/29/10 and approval is contingent upon the petitioner must ensure the Macaws will not contaminate, either directly or indirectly, food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, or unwrapped single-service or single-use articles. The public is prohibited from direct contact with the parrot. No other prohibited animals will be allowed on the premise. The display enclosure and night sleeping enclosure will be maintained clean and in good repair. All outlined written instructions provided by veterinarian Kim Breeze are to be followed. Birds are to be enclosed in a display cage (approximately 8 feet wide by six feet deep by 10 feet tall). Cleaning instructions include twice daily display cage liner removal, daily spot cleaning and weekly deep cleaning and sanitizing of the cages. Birds will be checked for disease prior to introduction and then screened annually thereafter via diagnostic testing to include blood work, viral screening and fecal and choanal gram stains. Monthly visual checkups will be conducted to ensure proper husbandry and to detect any change in the birds’ health.
A copy of the Order may be obtained by contacting: Lydia.Gonzalez@dbpr.state.fl.us, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1011.