Shellfish

 

Introduction

Any person who gathers live shellfishfor onward sale is required to:

• Only gather shellfish from a classified area, and
• Complete a registration document for each batch of shellfish (available from this department and blank attached for information)

Classification of areas is carried out in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004, Annex II, Chapter II, A.  Our dedicated sampling officers submit samples for microbiological examination monthly.

The food business operator must ensure that;

• They do not harvest from an area, which has not been classified or is unsuitable for health reasons. 
• They consider whether an area is suitable for harvesting.  Account should be taken into whether it is near a sewage outfall, periods of heavy rainfall etc.
• Only place shellfish from ‘A’ classified areas directly on the market, shellfish from ‘B’ classified areas must be sent for heat treatment/processing.

The Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) have split Shetland into four classified areas North, East, North West and West (see map). The classification is issued annuallyfor April to March.  The classification for each area is:

Area	Classification 2009/10
North	A: April 2009 – March 2010
East	A: April 2009 – March 2010
North West	A: April 2009 – July 2009 B: August 2009 – November 2009  A: December 2009 – March 2010
West	A: April 2009 – August 2009 B: September – October 2009 A: November 2009 – March 2010

• Each batch of shellfish must be accompanied by a registration document from the gatherer. The registration document must accompany the shellfish for onward movements and a copy of the registration document must be kept.
• Depending on what happens to the shellfish upon receipt (e.g. cleaning, sorting, processing, bagging etc.), you may be required to apply a health mark.  If you carry out any of these operations then please contactFood Safety on 01595 744800.

Other legal requirements may apply but the exact natural of your activities are not known so please complete the enclosed food premises registration form.  Registration Documents are available from our office upon request.

You are advised that winkles found on the market without registration documents may be certified as not having been produced, processed or distributed in compliance with the Hygiene Regulations.  They may then be detained or seized and subsequently destroyed.

For further information please contact Food Safety on 01595 744800 or foodsafety@shetland.gov.uk

A food business operator is defined as “the natural or legal persons responsible for ensuring that the requirements of food law are met within the food business under their control”.

A food business is defined as “any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to the stage of production, processing or distribution of food”.