18.11.08; Emergency measures suspending imports from Peru of certain bivalve molluscs intended for human consumption
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 lays down the general principles governing food and feed in general, and food and feed safety in particular. It provides for emergency measures where it is evident that food or feed imported from a third country is likely to constitute a serious risk to human health, animal health or the environment and that such a risk cannot be contained satisfactorily by means of measures taken by the EU Member State(s) concerned.
An outbreak of Hepatitis A in humans has been confirmed in the European Community. The origin of the disease has been identified to be the consumption of certain bivalve molluscs imported from Peru that were contaminated with the hepatitis A virus (HAV).
The contaminated bivalve molluscs are Donax clams (Donax spp) and the origin of the contamination is most likely a viral contamination of the water of the production areas. Other bivalve molluscs could therefore also be contaminated.
Since the consumption of those bivalve molluscs presents a serious risk for human health it is appropriate to suspend imports into the European Community of bivalve molluscs from Peru.
Vetimpleg explains the taken EU measures with a special Commission Decision.
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