Vol. 500 No. 3
39 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the notification, if any, he has received from health authorities that shellfish are unsafe to eat; the action, if any, he is taking to ensure that shellfish are safe for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3812/99]
The production and placing on the market of shellfish is regulated in accordance with the European Communities (Live Bivalve Molluscs) (Health Conditions for Production and Placing on the Market) Regulations, 1996 (SI No. 147 of 1996) Inspections, checks and sampling are carried out by my Department and health boards in respect of a range of processing facilities, including shellfish production areas, processing plants, etc. The aim of this detailed programme of surveillance and control is to ensure that shellfish products placed on the market are in full conformity with the prescribed health criteria and do not pose a risk to human health.
As an additional safeguard to public health the Marine Institute, with the co-operation of my Department, the Department of Health and Children and Irish shellfish producers, co-ordinates a national monitoring programme for the detection of toxins in shellfish. Samples are tested on a weekly basis throughout the year, and the harvesting of shellfish is prohibited if toxins are detected at an unsafe level. The ban on harvesting is lifted after thorough analysis of samples shows that the shellfish are fit for human consumption. The level of monitoring has recently been intensified and an enhanced level of testing for diarrhetic shellfish poison, DSP, toxins has been introduced.
Notifications have been received concerning alleged problems arising from the consumption of Irish mussels from the French authorities. This notification arose from two limited outbreaks of illness in France last September in which the symptoms were reported as being consistent with those caused by DSP.
My Department in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute is following up on these alleged incidents with the French authorities and the EU Commission to establish conclusively the association, if any, of Irish mussels with these food poisoning outbreaks.
As a precautionary measure, and pending completion of the current analysis and crosschecks frozen Irish mussels produced in the summer of 1998 were temporarily withdrawn from the market. This is standard operating procedure of all shellfish processors in line with product quality and consumer health standards.
Irish mussel exports to France and other markets in live and processed form are unaffected.
