Maria Luisa Fernández Cañamero, EU-CRL on Marine Biotoxins, Estación Marítima sn, 36271 Vigo, Spain

Abstract

A large number of European (EU) coastal countries are affected by toxic events related to Harmful Algae Blooms. Toxic episodes due to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) have been registered from the 19504s and Diarrhoetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins have been the cause of prolonged closures of shellfish production areas. Domoic acid, main toxin responsible to ASP, has been the cause of prolongued banning of harvesting in shellfish production areas from Galicia (NW of Spain), Scotland (UK) and Ireland in the last few years. A new toxic syndrome caused by Azaspiracid and analogues has been identified in Irish mussels and might affect a number of EU countries. The European Union, currently integrated by 15 EU countries, constitutes a free trade area and uniform sanitary regulations have been established to bring about competition on equal terms and ensure quality products for consumers. EU Directives 91/492/EEC and 91/493/EEC state the conditions for production and marketing of live bivalves and fishery products. Monitoring programs for marine toxin control in seafood following EU Directives have been implemented by the EU countries. Concerning imports from countries outside the EU, sanitary conditions at least equivalent to those of production and placing on the market of EU products are required. A network of European official laboratories coordinated by a Community Reference Laboratory has been set up to create a forum of discussion and agreements on analytical methods, performance criteria, and action levels for toxin control. Several Working Groups integrated by experts and members of the EU laboratories have been created in order to cover different areas that require specific and further work. EU regulations and approaches to marine toxin control, conclusions and recommendations of the most recent Working Groups on DSP&AZP, ASP in scallops and Sampling Plans, and activities of the EU network of laboratories on the field of harmonisation of methods and limits are presented and discussed.