Guidance on the inspection of shellfish purification systems for local food authorities
Tuesday 30 November 2010
The Regulation (EC) 853/2004 specifies the health conditions for the production and placing on the market of live bivalve molluscs. Under Regulation (EC) 854/2004.
The Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS), as competent authority, is responsible for setting the technical approval conditions for depuration tank systems.
The two regulations are directly applicable with national enforcement powers being provided by the Food Hygiene (Scotland) 2006 Regulations.
This document outlines parameters that are critical for successful depuration and give guidance to food authority officers on aspects of system design and operation that require attention during inspection.
Regulation 854/2004 and 2073/2005 lays down the end product standards required for shellfish.
Shellfish are required to meet category 'A' quality before being placed on the market. This is determined to be <230 E.coli/100g shellfish flesh. Shellfish can move legitimately between harvesters provided that they are accompanied by a registration form. However once they enter an approved premises they must meet the end product standard before the approved premise number can be applied. Where an approved premises therefore wishes to wash, sort, pack and despatch shellfish they must also ensure that the end product standard is met, hence for Class B product (230 – 4,600 E.coli/100g shellfish flesh), relaying, depuration or heat treatment must be applied.
Product of 'C' class standard (>4,600 E.coli/100g shellfish flesh) must be subject to relaying to ensure that it meets the category 'A' standard.
