76
H. Toyofuku
Results
Marine Biotoxins in Bivalve Molluscs
Marine biotoxins includes poisonous substances naturally present in fish and fishery
products or accumulated by the animals feeding on toxin-producing algae, or in
water containing toxins produced by such organisms. At the 25th session of the
CCFFP in 2002, the CCFFP asked FAO and WHO to provide scientific advice on
marine biotoxins in conjunction with its work on the Proposed Draft Standard for
Live and Processed Bivalve Molluscs (Codex 2002), and at its 26th session in 2003,
CCFFP made the following more specific requests:
• Provide scientific advice to the CCFFP to enable the establishment of maximum
levels in shellfish for toxins (paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), poisoning caused by
azaspiracid (AZP), neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP)-toxins, and yessotoxins
and pectenotoxins);
• Provide guidance on methods of analysis for each toxin group;
• Provide guidance on monitoring of biotoxin-forming phytoplankton and bivalve
molluscs (including sampling methodology);
• Provide information on geographical distribution of biotoxin-forming marine
phytoplankton (Codex 2003).
The FAO, WHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of
UNESCO (IOC) held a Joint ad hoc Expert Consultation on Biotoxins in Bivalve
Molluscs in Oslo, Norway in 2004, which generated a report that addressed the
aforementioned requests. The report considers all available data, mainly derived
from published and validated studies. Structured marine biotoxin risk assessments
(based on prescribed methods) were conducted and were included in the report,
along with guidance on methodology. The conclusions are summarized in Table 7.1
and should be reconsidered when further published findings become available
(Toyofuku 2006).
At the 27th session of the CCFFP in 2005 Codex (2005), the CCFFP agreed to
establish a physical Working Group (pWG) that would work between the sessions
to examine the report from the Joint FAO/WHO/IOC ad hoc Expert Consultation on
Biotoxins in Bivalve Molluscs and prepare a discussion paper for consideration by
the CCFFP with the following terms of reference:
• Assess how the CCFFP might use the expert advice and make recommendations
with respect to approaches that the CCFFP could consider to integrating the
advice into the Proposed Draft Standard for Live and [Raw] Molluscs and the
section of the Code on Live and [Raw] Bivalve Molluscs;
• Identify new questions that the CCFFP may wish to pose to FAO/WHO;
• Identify areas in the report that may need further clarification;
H. Toyofuku
Results
Marine Biotoxins in Bivalve Molluscs
Marine biotoxins includes poisonous substances naturally present in fish and fishery
products or accumulated by the animals feeding on toxin-producing algae, or in
water containing toxins produced by such organisms. At the 25th session of the
CCFFP in 2002, the CCFFP asked FAO and WHO to provide scientific advice on
marine biotoxins in conjunction with its work on the Proposed Draft Standard for
Live and Processed Bivalve Molluscs (Codex 2002), and at its 26th session in 2003,
CCFFP made the following more specific requests:
• Provide scientific advice to the CCFFP to enable the establishment of maximum
levels in shellfish for toxins (paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), poisoning caused by
azaspiracid (AZP), neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP)-toxins, and yessotoxins
and pectenotoxins);
• Provide guidance on methods of analysis for each toxin group;
• Provide guidance on monitoring of biotoxin-forming phytoplankton and bivalve
molluscs (including sampling methodology);
• Provide information on geographical distribution of biotoxin-forming marine
phytoplankton (Codex 2003).
The FAO, WHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of
UNESCO (IOC) held a Joint ad hoc Expert Consultation on Biotoxins in Bivalve
Molluscs in Oslo, Norway in 2004, which generated a report that addressed the
aforementioned requests. The report considers all available data, mainly derived
from published and validated studies. Structured marine biotoxin risk assessments
(based on prescribed methods) were conducted and were included in the report,
along with guidance on methodology. The conclusions are summarized in Table 7.1
and should be reconsidered when further published findings become available
(Toyofuku 2006).
At the 27th session of the CCFFP in 2005 Codex (2005), the CCFFP agreed to
establish a physical Working Group (pWG) that would work between the sessions
to examine the report from the Joint FAO/WHO/IOC ad hoc Expert Consultation on
Biotoxins in Bivalve Molluscs and prepare a discussion paper for consideration by
the CCFFP with the following terms of reference:
• Assess how the CCFFP might use the expert advice and make recommendations
with respect to approaches that the CCFFP could consider to integrating the
advice into the Proposed Draft Standard for Live and [Raw] Molluscs and the
section of the Code on Live and [Raw] Bivalve Molluscs;
• Identify new questions that the CCFFP may wish to pose to FAO/WHO;
• Identify areas in the report that may need further clarification;