Official control monitoring (live bivalve molluscs) programme (Scotland)
Information relating to biotoxin testing within Scottish waters up to 31 January 2012.
Weekly biotoxin monitoring results
Previous biotoxin monitoring results
In addition to the results from this week, here are the results from the past three weeks:
Biotoxin monitoring results from 7 days ago
Biotoxin monitoring results from 14 days ago
Biotoxin monitoring results from 21 days ago
Annual Reports
Executive Summary – Biotoxin Monitoring Programme for Scotland (April 2010 to March 2011)
Biotoxin Monitoring Programme for Scotland (April 2010 to March 2011)
Executive Summary – Biotoxin Monitoring Programme for Scotland (April 2009 to March 2010)
Biotoxin Monitoring Programme for Scotland (April 2009 to March 2010)
Implementation of HPLC for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in Scotland
Implementation of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning (psp) toxins in Scotland.
This annexe is to inform you of changes being made to the statutory monitoring programme for marine biotoxins in Scotland. The changes, which took effect from 6 May 2008, concern the testing for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in mussels only.
The Agency has approved the use of a chemical method, HPLC1, as a quantitative assay for the testing of PSP toxins in mussels.
The results for the PSP test will continue to be reported as a single figure and in terms of micrograms STX eq/kg shellfish tissue, similarly to the MBA. The current statutory maximum permitted limit of 800 micrograms STX eq/kg (80µg/100g) shellfish tissue remains unaltered.
Where the result is less than 16µg/100g, the result will be noted as <RL, meaning less than reporting limit. The alert level is between 40-79µg/100g and there is no change to this practice.
Should you have any queries about the adoption of this method or the
monitoring programme as a whole, please contact Jennifer Howie or Graham Ewen:
Jennifer Howie
tel: 01224 285157
email: jennifer.howie@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Graham Ewen
tel: 01224 285190
email: graham.ewen@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Phytoplankton monitoring
Phytoplankton monitoring is being carried by Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) on behalf of the Food Standards Agency Scotland.
Water samples are collected from designated shellfish growing areas and analysed, by light microscopy, for various species of phytoplankton.
Alert level phytoplankton concentrations have been set as per the table below and harvesters should take the necessary precautions if wanting to harvest under alert conditions.
| Biotoxin | Phytoplankton | Alert |
|---|---|---|
| PSP | Alexandrium (Saxitoxin) |
Greater than 0 cells/litre of Alexandrium |
| DSP | Dinophysis (Okadaic Acid) |
Greater than or equal to 100 cells/litre of Dinophysis, and by historical data. |
| ASP | Pseudo-nitzschia (Domoic Acid) |
Greater than or equal to 50,000 cells/litre of Pseudo-nitzschia, and/or historical data |
Testing results
Latest phytoplankton monitoring results
Previous results
Phytoplankton monitoring results from 7 days ago
Phytoplankton monitoring results from 14 days ago
Phytoplankton monitoring results from 21 days ago
Annual Reports
Monitoring Programme for the Presence of Toxin Producing Plankton in Shellfish Production Areas in Scotland (2010)
Should you require any further information regarding harvesting or the interpretation of results, please contact your local authority or the Food Standards Agency Scotland for advice.
Further information
The maximum permitted levels of biotoxins in shellfish are as follows:
PSP: 800 micrograms/kilogram
ASP: 20 milligrams/kilogram
Lipophilic toxins (tested by LC-MS):
i. OA/DTXs/PTXs: 160 micrograms of okadaic acid equivalents/kilogram
ii. YTXs: 1 milligram of yessotoxin equivalent/kilogram
iii. AZAs: 160 micrograms of azaspiracid equivalents/kilogram
DSP (for species not tested by LC-MS): DSP toxins must not be present
For details of any Temporary Closure Notices and/or Warning Notices please contact your local authority environmental health officer for advice via the contact details further up the page.
The absence of information does not necessarily mean the area is free of biotoxins. It remains the responsibility of food business operators to ensure that their products comply with all relevant statutory requirements.
Please note that this report reflects the biotoxin results reported on Tuesday of each week.
Publication of E.Coli Monitoring Results for Classified Harvesting Areas in Scotland
The Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS) is responsible for ensuring that shellfish from designated harvesting areas meet the health standards laid down in EU law.
FSAS sets out and has responsibility for the overall policy for the monitoring and classification of shellfish harvesting areas. FSAS awards classifications results according to the FSAS Protocol for Classification and Management of E. coli results:
http://www.food.gov.uk/scotland/regsscotland/regsguidscot/protocolecoliresultsjuly09
Classification
Live bivalve molluscs (LBMs) shellfish harvesting areas are classified by monitoring the levels of E. coli in shellfish flesh. Treatment processes are specified according to the classification status of the area.
| Category | Result (Per 100g Flesh) | Action |
|---|---|---|
| A | <230 E.Coli/100g of flesh | May go directly for human consumption if end product standard met. |
| B | <4600 E.Coli/100g of flesh | Must be subject to purification, relaying in Class A area (to meet Category A requirements) or cooked by an approved method. |
| C | <46,000 E.Coli/100g of flesh | Must be subject to relaying for a period of at least 2 months or cooked by an approved method. |
| >46,000 E.Coli/100g of flesh | Prohibited. Harvesting not permitted. |
In all cases, the health standards in Annex III of EC Regulations 853/2004 and the microbiological criteria adopted under EC Regulation 2073/2005 must be met.
E. Coli Monthly Monitoring Results
December 2011 Results
November 2011 Results
October 2011 Results
September 2011 Results
August 2011 Results
July 2011 Results
June 2011 Results
May 2011 Results
April 2011 Results
March 2011 Results
February 2011 Results
January 2011 Results
Contact
Should you have any queries about the adoption of the HPLC method or the monitoring programme as a whole, please contact:
Jennifer Howie
tel: 01224 285157
email: jennifer.howie@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
