Appendices – Round Table Summaries
251
mussels so Canadian product would not be competitive. The industry expressed
concerns about the management of information by the regulatory agencies. Both
Environment Canada and USFDA responded in support of careful handling of
information that could affect the industry. The time it takes to develop improved
procedures (source tracking, dilution studies at wastewater treatment plants, new
methods and indicators) seems to take much more time than the industry feels it
can afford. When the audience raised the question of how many human illnesses
are a result of viruses in shellfish there were no solid figures. There have been no
outbreaks in Canada and only one Hepatitis-A outbreak over 20 years ago in the
US. However, naturally occurring vibrios transmitted through the consumption of
shellfish remains a problem worldwide.
Risk Management and Impacts
Chair: Robyn Edwards, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Panel members: I. Boxman, T. Howell, R. Lee, H. Toyofuku, A. Zammit
The discussion was held after a session with four presentations related to the use of
risk management process and how it influences molluscan shellfish control systems
in different countries or at international advisory bodies:
Boxman – Codex CCFH guidelines on control of viruses
Toyofuku – Regulator Perspective on translating science into policy
Lee – Salmonella in bivalves: public health considerations (Codex)
Howell – Industry perspective on translating Science into Policy
Concerns about the presence of viruses in bivalve molluscs are gaining prominence with epidemiologic evidence building up and the lack of solid scientific proof
of prevalence. Questions were raised regarding the fact that the Codex Committee on
Food Hygiene (CCFH) has issued a Proposed Draft Guidelines on the Application
of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food
1 that has an
annex specific to the control of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and norovirus in bivalves,
while there has been no formal risk assessment produced by any CODEX group of
experts.
Comments were made about the validity of a proposed heat treatment (90
ı C
for 90 s.) to control HAV and the possible understanding it is an acceptable postharvest treatment for bivalves. In fact, the guidelines should clearly exclude the latter
as an acceptable post-harvest treatment for bivalves harvested in a knowingly HAV
1 ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Meetings/CCFH/ccfh43/fh43 04e.pdf [Accessed 14 November 2012].
This Codex GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FOOD
HYGIENE TO THE CONTROL OF VIRUSES IN FOOD (CAC/GL 79-2012) was finalized
and adopted in July 2012. Available from http://www.codexalimentarius.org/input/download/
standards/13215/CXG 079e.pdf
251
mussels so Canadian product would not be competitive. The industry expressed
concerns about the management of information by the regulatory agencies. Both
Environment Canada and USFDA responded in support of careful handling of
information that could affect the industry. The time it takes to develop improved
procedures (source tracking, dilution studies at wastewater treatment plants, new
methods and indicators) seems to take much more time than the industry feels it
can afford. When the audience raised the question of how many human illnesses
are a result of viruses in shellfish there were no solid figures. There have been no
outbreaks in Canada and only one Hepatitis-A outbreak over 20 years ago in the
US. However, naturally occurring vibrios transmitted through the consumption of
shellfish remains a problem worldwide.
Risk Management and Impacts
Chair: Robyn Edwards, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Panel members: I. Boxman, T. Howell, R. Lee, H. Toyofuku, A. Zammit
The discussion was held after a session with four presentations related to the use of
risk management process and how it influences molluscan shellfish control systems
in different countries or at international advisory bodies:
Boxman – Codex CCFH guidelines on control of viruses
Toyofuku – Regulator Perspective on translating science into policy
Lee – Salmonella in bivalves: public health considerations (Codex)
Howell – Industry perspective on translating Science into Policy
Concerns about the presence of viruses in bivalve molluscs are gaining prominence with epidemiologic evidence building up and the lack of solid scientific proof
of prevalence. Questions were raised regarding the fact that the Codex Committee on
Food Hygiene (CCFH) has issued a Proposed Draft Guidelines on the Application
of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food
1 that has an
annex specific to the control of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and norovirus in bivalves,
while there has been no formal risk assessment produced by any CODEX group of
experts.
Comments were made about the validity of a proposed heat treatment (90
ı C
for 90 s.) to control HAV and the possible understanding it is an acceptable postharvest treatment for bivalves. In fact, the guidelines should clearly exclude the latter
as an acceptable post-harvest treatment for bivalves harvested in a knowingly HAV
1 ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Meetings/CCFH/ccfh43/fh43 04e.pdf [Accessed 14 November 2012].
This Codex GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FOOD
HYGIENE TO THE CONTROL OF VIRUSES IN FOOD (CAC/GL 79-2012) was finalized
and adopted in July 2012. Available from http://www.codexalimentarius.org/input/download/
standards/13215/CXG 079e.pdf