§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those inshore and estuarial fisheries where the collection of shellfish for commercial purposes has been banned because of the level of viral and faecal matters in seawater.
§ Mr. JackSince 1 January 1993 single market legislation requires all shellfish growing areas in the Community to be classified according to microbiological criteria. The classification of production areas as A, B or C carries specific requirements for the marketing of the shellfish—bi—valve molluscs.
- A areas—molluscs can be harvested for direct human consumption.
- B areas—molluscs can go for human consumption after purification in an approved plant, or after relaying in an approved relaying area, or after an EU approved heat treatment process.
- C areas—molluscs can go for human consumption, only after relaying for at least two months in an approved relaying area whether or not combined with purification, or after an EU approved heat treatment process.
Molluscs must not be marketed from areas that are not classified, or fall outside the criteria.
Shellfish growing areas are monitored continuously by local food authorities. The results for England and Wales are collated by the Ministry's fish disease laboratory at Weymouth and the classification is published annually. The latest classification, which contains a list of designated prohibited areas, was issued on 4 October and a copy is in the Library of the House.