Q - What information and guidance is there for manufacturars of Rock Lobster, Spiny Lobster and Sea Crayfish?

A - The sea crayfish, Palinurus elephas (synonym Palinurus vulgaris), is frequently imported into the USA in the form of frozen tails, frozen cooked meat, or canned meat. By long usage, the terms "Rock Lobster" and "Spiny Lobster" have been established as common or usual names for these products. No objection has been offered to either of these terms, providing the modifying words "rock" or "spiny" are used in direct connection with the word "lobster" in type of equal size and prominence.

In examination of imports, decomposition has sometimes been detected in all three forms of the product. In the canned product, decomposition resulted from the packing of decomposed raw material and also from active bacterial spoilage. In the frozen cooked products, detentions have been necessary also because of the presence of microorganisms indicative of pollution with human or animal filth, as well as of decomposition.

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