Official control monitoring (live bivalve molluscs) programme (Northern Ireland)

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for the detection of Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP)

The Agency has approved the replacement of the MBA for detection of lipophilic toxins, including toxins responsible for Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) with Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

The new method will be used to detect lipophilic toxins in 8 major species of commercial interest: common mussels (Mytilis edulis), common cockles (Cerastoderma edule), Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), native oyster (Ostrea edulis), king scallops (Pecten maximus), Queen Scallops (Aequipecten opercularis), hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), and razor clams (Ensis spp.)

Results will be expressed in terms of micrograms lipophilic toxins eq/kg shellfish tissue (µg LT/kg shellfish tissue). The 'DSP Result' column will no longer report a 'negative/positive' for these 8 species (an exceedance of the statutory levels for any of the regulated lipophilic toxins, as specified in Regulation 853/2004 will lead to the closure of a production area as specified in the further information section below.

Further Information
For details of any Temporary Closure Notices and/or Warning Notices please contact your Local Environmental Health Officer for advice. 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.

The maximum permitted levels of biotoxins in shellfish are as follows:

• PSP: 800 micrograms/ kilogram
• ASP: 20 micrograms of domoic acid/kilogram
• Lipophilic toxins (tested by LC-MS):
  1. OA/DTXs/PTXs: 160 micrograms of Okadaic acid equivalents/kilogram
  2. YTXs: 1 milligram of yessotoxin equivalent/kilogram
  3. AZAs: 160 micrograms of azaspiracid equivalents/kilogram

DSP (for species not tested by LC-MS): DSP toxins must not be present

Changes to the statutory monitoring programme for marine biotoxins in Northern Ireland took effect from 7 May 2008, and 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.

Latest results
Click here for the latest biotoxin monitoring results

Previous results
1 - 15 January 2012 biotoxin monitoring results

Please see links below for results for Official control biotoxin monitoring (live bivalve molluscs) programme (Northern Ireland) 2008-2011.

Water samples are collected from identified classified shellfish harvesting 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 150,000 cells/litre of Pseudo-nitzschia, and/or historical data

Latest results
Click here for the latest water testing results

Previous results
1 - 15 January 2012 latest water testing results

Please see links below for Official control biotoxin monitoring (live bivalve molluscs) programme (Northern Ireland) 2008-2011.

FSA in NI will use these results to classify each of the harvesting areas on an annual basis. The primary indicator for classification is the e-coli count.

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.

Category A – 100% of the Samples must all be within this Category
(<230 E.Coli/100g) – (Consideration will be given to the CEFAS criteria for disregarding results)

Category B – 90% of the Samples must be at least Category B
(<4600 E.Coli/100g) – (Consideration will be given to the CEFAS criteria for disregarding results)

Latest results
Click here for the latest Microbiological Results for Classified Harvesting Areas in Northern Ireland

Protocol for the Management of E.Coli Results Outwith Classification and High E.Coli Results (FSA Northern Ireland)

As required by EC Regulation 854/2004 flesh samples are collected from identified classified shellfish harvesting areas and analysed for chemical contaminants including, heavy metals, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s), dioxins and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s).

Regularity limits as laid down in EC Regulation 1881/2006.

Heavy Metals	Maximum Regulatory Limits (MRL's)
Lead	1,5 (mg/kg wet weight)
Cadmium	1,0 (mg/kg wet weight)
Mercury	0,50 (mg/kg wet weight)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s)	Maximum Regulatory Limits (MRL's)
	10,0 (µg/kg wet weight)

Dioxins and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s)	Maximum Regulatory Limits (MRL's)
	Sum of dioxins	Sum of dioxins and dioxin like PCBs
	4,0 (pg/g wet weight)	8,0 (pg/g wet weight)

2011 results
Pre-Spawning Heavy Metal Results 2011 (Northern Ireland)
Pre-Spawning Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH's) Results 2011 (Northern Ireland)
Pre-Spawning Dioxin and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s) Results 2011 (Northern Ireland)

Should you have any queries about the monitoring programme please contact:
Anthony Higgins
Primary Production Unit
Food Safety and Operations
Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland
10A-C Clarendon Road,
Belfast, BT1 3BG

tel: 028 9041 7761
fax: 028 9041 7726
email: anthony.higgins@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk