CEFAS23-118 Statutory shellfish sample collection

Current legislation requires that classified shellfish production and relaying areas are monitored for microbiological contamination, marine biotoxins, harmful algae and chemical contamination. This forms part of an official control monitoring programme. In Scotland, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is the competent authority with responsibility for the implementation and delivery of the Scottish shellfish official control (OC) monitoring programme. Cefas is the laboratory designated by FSS to provide a completely managed, high quality service for the provision of this programme across Scotland. Services delegated to Cefas include co-ordinating the programme, arranging the collection of samples and delivering the required testing, and this in line with relevant national legislation as well as FSS policies and protocols. Cefas requires the Contractor to provide a completely managed, high quality service for the provision of Sample Collection for various species of live bivalve molluscs and water in Scotland as defined in relevant Legislation.