1993D0025 — EN — 10.04.1997 — 001.001

This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

Amended by:

Official Journal No page date ►M1 Commission Decision of 9 April 1997 L 108 52 25.4.1997

▼B

COMMISSION DECISION

of 11 December 1992

approving certain treatments to inhibit the development of pathogenic micro-organisms in bivalve molluscs and marine gastropods

(93/25/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products ( 1 ), and in particular Chapter IV (IV) (2) of the Annex thereto, Whereas bivalve molluscs and marine gastropods harvested in the areas referred to in Chapter I (1) (b) and (1) (c) of the Annex to Council Directive 91/492/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of live bivalve molluscs ( 2 ) constitute a potential threat to consumers if they are not subjected to appropriate treatment; Whereas Spain and United Kingdom have put forward treatments to inhibit the development of pathogens in bivalve molluscs and marine gastropods; Whereas these processes are adequate to ensure the health of the products and it is not necessary therefore to subject them in advance to purification or relaying; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The treatments set out in the Annex to this Decision for inhibiting the development of pathogenic micro-organisms in bivalve molluscs and marine gastropods harvested in the areas referred to in Chapter I (1) (b) and (1) (c) or the Annex to Directive 91/492/EEC and which have not been subjected to relaying or purification before being placed on the market are hereby approved.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

ANNEX

A. Sterilization

Bivalve molluscs and marine gastropods may be subjected to sterilization in hermetically sealed containers which comply with the requirements of Chapter IV (IV) (4) of the Annex to Directive 91/493/EEC.

B. Other heat treatments

Bivalve molluscs and marine gastropods in shell and not frozen may undergo one of the following processes:

1. — immersion in boiling water for the period required to raise the internal temperature of the mollusc flesh to not less than 90 °C; — maintenance of this minimum temperature for a period of not less than 90 seconds;

2. — cooking for three to five minutes in an enclosed space where: — — the temperature is between 120 and 160 °C, — the pressure is between 2 and 5 kg/cm2, followed by shelling and freezing of the flesh to a core temperature of − 20 °C. ▼M1 3. — steaming under pressure in an enclosed space where: — the requirements relating to cooking time and the internal temperature of the mollusc flesh referred to at 1 above are met, — the uniform distribution of heat in the enclosed space is guaranteed by validated methodology in the framework of the own-checks programme.

( 1 ) OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 15.

( 2 ) OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 1.