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Shellfish Classification

Background Information

1. EC Regulations 853/2004 and 854/2004 set out criteria relating to the commercial production and sale of live bivalve molluscs (clams, cockles, oysters, mussels etc) from classified production areas. These Regulations are law in the UK and are implemented by means of the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.
2. Data for shellfish waters in England and Wales is compiled by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth (CEFAS), using the results of monthly bacteriological sampling carried out by Local Authorities. Production areas are then classified, by the Food Standards Agency, according to the E. coli levels in the shellfish sampled from the harvesting areas.
3. The classification determines the areas where shellfish can be collected from and how the shellfish have to be treated, after harvesting, to ensure that they are safe to eat.

Classification categories

• A class - molluscs can be harvested for direct human consumption.
• B class - molluscs can be marketed for human consumption after purification in an approved plant or after relaying in an approved class A relaying area or after being subjected to an EC approved heat treatment process.
• C class - molluscs can be marketed for human consumption only after relaying for at least two months in an approved relaying area followed, where necessary, by treatment in a purification centre, or after an EC approved heat treatment process.
• Prohibited areas - molluscs must not be subject to production or be collected.
• Unclassified areas - molluscs must not be subject to production or be collected.

Current Classifications – Poole Harbour and Poole Bay

Most areas of Poole Harbour, and all of the classifed area of Poole Bay, are classifed as ‘B’.

There several unclassified and prohibited areas. Bivalve shellfish (cockles, clams, oysters, mussels) must not be harvested (gathered) from these areas because of potential public health risks: 

• Wareham Channel West (prohibited area due to bacteriological contamination)
• Lytchett Bay (prohibited area due to bacteriological contamination)
• Holes Bay (unclassified area due to concerns about chemical contamination)

Further details including maps showing the areas of classification for each species are available on request from E&CPS.

Information can also be obtained from the Food Standards Agency web-site: http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/farmingfood/shellfish/shellharvestareas /