The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has issued a Food Safety Information Notice (FSIN), reminding all shellfish harvesters operating in Ireland of their legal obligation to be registered as Food Business Operators (FBOs) with the SFPA.
Registration as a Food Business Operator is a legal requirement under Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs. It applies to any natural or legal person who collects live bivalve molluscs (LBM’s) — including oysters, mussels, clams, cockles, and scallops — from a harvesting area for the purpose of handling and placing LBM’s on the market. Any person completing a Shellfish Registration Document (SRD) is a food business operator and is required to be registered.
Registration with the SFPA is free of charge. Shellfish harvesters operating in Ireland must register by completing the Application Form for Registration as an FBO, which can be submitted either by email to Applications@sfpa.ie or by post to Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, Food & Fisheries Support Unit, Block B, Clogheen, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, P85 TX47.
Please note that registration is not automatic. Each application will be reviewed by the SFPA. A decision letter will then be issued to the applicant.
A spokesperson for the SFPA commented:
"Shellfish harvesters play a critical role in Ireland's seafood supply chain, and registration is a fundamental element of official food safety oversight. We are reminding all harvesters who have not yet registered to do so without delay."
The SFPA will be contacting shellfish harvesters to confirm that registration is in place.
Queries can be directed to SFPAFood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie
ENDS
Note to Editor
To read this FSIN, click Food Safety Information Notice Registration of Shellfish Harvesters as Food Business Operators
About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie