Food Standards Agency
Monday 15 March 2010
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Listen to this siteInformation relating to biotoxin testing within Northern Ireland waters.
Implications of the new food hygiene regulations for shellfish monitoring in Northern Ireland
The new Food Hygiene Regulations came into force on 11 January 2006, and are the result of an exercise by the European Commission to consolidate and simplify food hygiene legislation across all food sectors. These new regulations alter the requirements for the monitoring of the shellfish industry in Northern Ireland by the Food Standards Agency.
Information relating to biotoxin testing within classified areas in Northern Ireland.
The maximum permitted levels of biotoxins in shellfish are as follows:
The absence of information does not necessarily mean the area is free of biotoxins.
Shellfish processors are reminded that their products must comply with all the statutory requirements of the above regulations.
Latest results
select this link for the latest biotoxin monitoring results
Previous results
January 2010 biotoxin monitoring results
December 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
November 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
October 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
September 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
August 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
July 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
June 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
May 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
April 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
March 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
February 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
January 2009 biotoxin monitoring results
2008 results
Please see link below: Results of biotoxin monitoring results 2008 (Northern Ireland)
Water samples are collected from designated shellfish growing areas and analysed, by light microscopy, for various species of phytoplankton.
Alert Level Phytoplankton concentrations have been set as per the table below and harvesters should take the necessary precautions if wanting to harvest under alert conditions.
Latest results
select this link for the latest water testing results
Previous results
January 2010 water testing results
December 2009 water testing results
November 2009 water testing results
October 2009 water testing results
September 2009 water testing results
August 2009 water testing results
July 2009 water testing results
June 2009 water testing results
May 2009 water testing results
April 2009 water testing results
March 2009 water testing results
February 2009 water testing results
January 2009 water testing results
2008 results
Please see link below: Results of phytoplankton monitoring 2008 (Northern Ireland)
select this link for the latest scallop testing results
Maps showing areas of Irish waters
ICES area VIa
ICES area VIIa
Previous scallop testing results
April 2009 scallop toxin results
March 2009 scallop toxin results
February 2009 scallop toxin results
January 2009 scallop toxin results
2008 results
Please see link below: Official controls - Monitoring of wild scallops harvested outside classified areas 2008 (Northern Ireland)
Should you require any further information regarding harvesting or the interpretation of results, please contact your local authority or the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland for advice.
Back to topChanges to the statutory monitoring programme for marine biotoxins in Northern Ireland took affect from 6 May 2008. The changes concern the testing for PSP toxins in mussels only.
The Agency has approved the use of a chemical method, HPLC , as a quantitative assay for the testing of PSP toxins in mussels.
The results for the PSP test will continue to be reported as a single figure and in terms of micrograms STX eq/kg shellfish tissue, similarly to the MBA. Please note that the current statutory maximum permitted limit of 800 micrograms STX eq/kg (80µg/100g) shellfish tissue remains unaltered.
Where the result is less than 16µg/100g the result will be noted as <RL meaning less than reporting limit. You will be aware that alert level is between 40-79µg/100g and there is no change to this practice.
Back to topThe new Food Hygiene Regulations came into force on 11 January 2006, and are the result of an exercise by the European Commission to consolidate and simplify food hygiene legislation across all food sectors. These new regulations alter the requirements for the monitoring of the shellfish industry in Northern Ireland by the Food Standards Agency.
Results for 2008 - Northern Ireland
Information relating to biotoxin testing within classified areas in Northern Ireland for 2008.
Water samples are collected from designated shellfish growing areas and analysed, by light microscopy, for various species of phytoplankton.
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