2 The shellfish toxin monitoring system
8. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the competent
authority in the United Kingdom in the terms of the Shellfish
Hygiene Directive and as such is responsible for the monitoring
and control of marine biotoxins, that is, toxins produced by algae.[3]
Where monitoring test results show that placing shellfish on the
market may constitute a hazard to human health, the FSA recommends
closure of the beds the shellfish came from. It is then for the
relevant food authority (the local authority) to impose a Temporary
Prohibition Order, which closes the beds to harvesting until the
tests have returned negative results for two consecutive weeks.[4]
9. The laboratory testing of shellfish is carried
out under contract. Monitoring in England, Wales and Scotland
was originally carried out by the Fisheries Research Service (FRS)
and its predecessors, in Aberdeen.[5]
In 1999 the European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office criticised
the United Kingdom for carrying out insufficient sampling, in
terms of the number of areas and species sampled.[6]
The FSA decided to increase the numbers of shellfish tested and
to put the monitoring contract out to competitive tender.[7]
As a result, in 2001 statutory testing for shellfish toxins in
England and Wales was transferred to the Centre for Environment,
Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), in Weymouth. FRS still
conducts the monitoring programme in Scotland.[8]
The Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has
conducted the testing programme in Northern Ireland since the
Directive was implemented.[9]
3 Ev 32 Back
4
Ev 33 Back
5
Ev 83 Back
6
Q54, Ev 84 Back
7
Q57 Back
8
Ev 33 Back
9
Ev 55 Back
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