Division C REQUIREMENTS FOR RELAYING LIVE BIVALVE MOLLUSCSX1

Food business operators relaying live bivalve molluscs must ensure compliance with the following requirements.

1. 1..

   Food business operators may use only those areas that the competent authority has approved for relaying live bivalve molluscs. Buoys, poles or other fixed means must clearly identify the boundaries of the sites. There must be a minimum distance between relaying areas, and also between relaying areas and production areas, so as to minimise any risk of the spread of contamination.

2. 2..

   Conditions for relaying must ensure optimal conditions for purification. In particular, food business operators must:

   1. (a)

      use techniques for handling live bivalve molluscs intended for relaying that permit the resumption of filter-feeding activity after immersion in natural waters;

   2. (b)

      not relay live bivalve molluscs at a density that prevents purification;

   3. (c)

      immerse live bivalve molluscs in seawater at the relaying area for an appropriate period, fixed depending on the water temperature, which period must be of at least two months' duration unless the competent authority agrees to a shorter period on the basis of the food business operator's risk analysis;

      and

   4. (d)

      ensure sufficient separation of sites within a relaying area to prevent mixing of batches; the ‘ all in, all out ’ system must be used, so that a new batch cannot be brought in before the whole of the previous batch has been removed.

3. 3..

   Food business operators managing relaying areas must keep permanent records of the source of live bivalve molluscs, relaying periods, relaying areas used and the subsequent destination of the batch after relaying, for inspection by the competent authority.