40
D. Medina et al.
investments, which are very difficult to afford in developing countries. In spite of
these difficulties, some South American countries have successfully implemented
the requirements and are either authorized or should soon be authorized to export
to developed countries. The EU is the main destination market for live or frozen
molluscs. In order to verify the compliance with the European Union regulation in
force, missions of the FVO (Food and Veterinary Office) evaluate the performance
of the Competent Authorities of the exporter countries “in situ”.
Based on EU regulation, current requirements are those stated in the Hygienic
package that comprises Regulations (CE) 852/2004 (10), 853/2004 (11) and
854/2004 (12), referred to general, specific and official controls on foods. In
addition, the Directive 923/79/CEE relates to the quality of molluscan growing
waters. Besides these regulations, there is the legal framework: (CE) 1881/2006
(7), (CE) 2073/2005 (5), (CE) 2074/2005 (6), and (CE) 333/2007 (8) which
refer to maximum limits of contamination, microbiological criteria and analysis
methods for foodstuff. For biotoxins Decision 2002/225/EC (4) is applied; Directive
2001/22/EC (3) for heavy metals; Regulation (CE) 854/2004, Annex II which
refers to production zones (delimitation and classification of growing zones), and
Regulation (CE) 853/2004 Annex III, refers to the harvest from authorized zones,
identification documents and reception controls at depuration and expedition centres
(Fig. 4.1).
Argentina
In Argentina the molluscs of commercial interest are mainly from wild beds, which
are spread along the continental shelf. The shellfish aquaculture industry is not
yet developed on a large scale, although in recent years some companies have
begun to develop the culture of oysters and mussels. At present Argentina does
not export live or frozen bivalve molluscs to the European Union. Only the scallop
adductor muscle, free of viscera and gonads processed and frozen on board of
factory vessels, can be exported to the EU, USA and Canada. The “Fishery Federal
Law” of Argentina states that Provinces are sovereign for the resources that inhabit
the coastal waters up to 12 nautical marine miles. For this reason each Province is
responsible for sanitary shellfish monitoring within its jurisdiction. Since the 1980s,
the Provinces have carried out plans for monitoring of Paralytic Shellfish Poison
(PSP) either in commercial harvested shellfish or for molluscs in coastal zones
accessible to residents and tourists. In 2000 the SENASA (National Animal Health
and Agrifood Quality Service) updated its legislation and included the operating
rules for the harvest of bivalve molluscs for human consumption in the chapter of
fishery products (1). This was based on the Directive 91/492/CEE of 15 July 1991
(laying down the health conditions for the production and placing on the market of
live bivalve molluscs) in force at the time. Due to some difficulties in its application,
the Regulation was modified in 2006 and aligned with the Regulations 853/2004
(11) and 854/2004 (12) of the European Union.
D. Medina et al.
investments, which are very difficult to afford in developing countries. In spite of
these difficulties, some South American countries have successfully implemented
the requirements and are either authorized or should soon be authorized to export
to developed countries. The EU is the main destination market for live or frozen
molluscs. In order to verify the compliance with the European Union regulation in
force, missions of the FVO (Food and Veterinary Office) evaluate the performance
of the Competent Authorities of the exporter countries “in situ”.
Based on EU regulation, current requirements are those stated in the Hygienic
package that comprises Regulations (CE) 852/2004 (10), 853/2004 (11) and
854/2004 (12), referred to general, specific and official controls on foods. In
addition, the Directive 923/79/CEE relates to the quality of molluscan growing
waters. Besides these regulations, there is the legal framework: (CE) 1881/2006
(7), (CE) 2073/2005 (5), (CE) 2074/2005 (6), and (CE) 333/2007 (8) which
refer to maximum limits of contamination, microbiological criteria and analysis
methods for foodstuff. For biotoxins Decision 2002/225/EC (4) is applied; Directive
2001/22/EC (3) for heavy metals; Regulation (CE) 854/2004, Annex II which
refers to production zones (delimitation and classification of growing zones), and
Regulation (CE) 853/2004 Annex III, refers to the harvest from authorized zones,
identification documents and reception controls at depuration and expedition centres
(Fig. 4.1).
Argentina
In Argentina the molluscs of commercial interest are mainly from wild beds, which
are spread along the continental shelf. The shellfish aquaculture industry is not
yet developed on a large scale, although in recent years some companies have
begun to develop the culture of oysters and mussels. At present Argentina does
not export live or frozen bivalve molluscs to the European Union. Only the scallop
adductor muscle, free of viscera and gonads processed and frozen on board of
factory vessels, can be exported to the EU, USA and Canada. The “Fishery Federal
Law” of Argentina states that Provinces are sovereign for the resources that inhabit
the coastal waters up to 12 nautical marine miles. For this reason each Province is
responsible for sanitary shellfish monitoring within its jurisdiction. Since the 1980s,
the Provinces have carried out plans for monitoring of Paralytic Shellfish Poison
(PSP) either in commercial harvested shellfish or for molluscs in coastal zones
accessible to residents and tourists. In 2000 the SENASA (National Animal Health
and Agrifood Quality Service) updated its legislation and included the operating
rules for the harvest of bivalve molluscs for human consumption in the chapter of
fishery products (1). This was based on the Directive 91/492/CEE of 15 July 1991
(laying down the health conditions for the production and placing on the market of
live bivalve molluscs) in force at the time. Due to some difficulties in its application,
the Regulation was modified in 2006 and aligned with the Regulations 853/2004
(11) and 854/2004 (12) of the European Union.