§ Mr. Andrew WelshTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the dates on which the samples of shellfish were taken, (b) the sample points and (c) the number of samples which showed danger levels of toxins on which the decision to impose a shellfishing ban was based.
§ Mr. CurryDetails of the mussel samples on which a decision was taken to issue the warning on 26 May about the consumption of shellfish from the north-east coast are as follows:
Date of sample Sample site Units of toxin per 100g 19 May Loch Elisor Not detected 21 May Whitby 848 21 May Berwick Harbour 903 22 May Trow Rocks 19,881 22 May Redcar 909 22 May Saltburn 255 22 May Coquet Estuary 1,119 22 May Cresswell 5,900 22 May Holy Island 386 22 May Montrose Not detected 22 May Scarborough 300 The World Health Organisation recommends that action should be taken to protect consumers from consuming shellfish containing more than 400 units of toxin per 100g of flesh.