Background

Public health controls on the commercial production of shellfish for human consumption within the European Union (EU) are determined by the EU Food Hygiene Regulations. The competent authority within the United Kingdom responsible for the implementation of these Regulations is the Food Standards Agency .

A network of Reference Laboratories for monitoring bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs was established following a number of shellfish-related food-poisoning incidents in EU Member States. The competent authority in each EU Member State holds the responsibility to designate a National Reference Laboratory (NRL) that co-ordinates the activities of other national testing laboratories in that Member State and represents the views of the Member State laboratories at the European level. Information on the designation and responsibilities of reference laboratories is contained within Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law and animal health welfare rules.

CEFAS Weymouth has been designated by the Food Standards Agency as the NRL for the UK.