§ Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to her European counterparts on a common European approach to the monitoring of toxins in shellfish; and if she will make a statement. [163234]
§ Mr. Bradshaw: None. This is the policy responsibility of the Food Standards Agency.
§ Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking with the Food Standards Agency to minimise shellfish bed closures due to atypical positive results. [163236]
§ Mr. Bradshaw: The decision on whether to close shellfish beds is the policy responsibility of local Food Authorities, advised by the Food Standards Agency. The Department continues to stay in close contact with the Agency on a whole range of issues relating to the atypical positive results to ensure the problem is fully investigated and the appropriate actions are taken.