East Suffolk Council
Live shellfish registration documents
Registration documents are an important link in a chain of public health control measures designed to ensure that shellfish placed on the market are safe to eat. It is therefore essential that the origin of the shellfish is known and that this traceability is maintained from harvesting to final sale.
There is a legal requirement for each batch or consignment of live bivalve molluscs or live shellfish being removed from a designated shellfish production area, or in the case of non-filter feeding gastropods such as whelks and periwinkles, from unclassified areas, to be accompanied by a registration document.
Registration documents are available free of charge on request.
How to request registration documents
Blank uniquely numbered registration documents can be obtained free of charge by completing the document request form. Please note we need a minimum of 5 working days to process this request.
| Register online to sell live bivalve molluscs/live shellfish in the East Suffolk area |
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| Live bivalve molluscs/live shellfish registration document online request form |
If you are not gathering from a production or harvesting area within the East Suffolk area you should contact the local authority who cover the production or harvesting area and they will issue you with documents.
How to use registration documents
A new document must be used for each batch. The completed registration document must accompany each batch at all times during transport from the production area to the place of destination, e.g. purification centre, dispatch centre, relaying area, processing plant. All relevant sections must be completed legibly and indelibly.
Documents are issued in duplicate (pre-carbonated) and must be completed by the person responsible for the removal of the shellfish from the bed. One copy must be sent with the batch of live shellfish, and the other retained for 12 months by you.
It is important that part 2 of the registration document is completed by the person receiving the shellfish and that both they and the gatherer keep a copy for 12 months. However, if a batch is split, then a copy of the original registration document is permitted and must accompany each sub batch together with the full name and address of the person splitting the batch.
Regulation summary
EC Regulations 853/2004 (Article 7/Annex III, Section VII, Chapter I) and 854/2004 (Annex III, Section VII, Chapter IX) set out criteria relating to the commercial production and sale of live bivalve molluscs from classified production areas. These regulations are law in the UK and are implemented by means of the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.
Inspection of registration documents
Authorised officers have the authority to inspect registration documents held by harvesters in order to ensure that they are being completed and used correctly. Officers will make random visits to worked shellfish production areas in order to check documents, they may also ask to see previously completed documents to verify that they are being filled in and used correctly.
The registration document system's main aim is to safeguard public health by maintaining a level of traceability within the chain of harvesting, movement, relaying (where appropriate), purification or heat treatment to the final consumer. This allows for recall of product if a food safety incident occurs, e.g. algal toxins discovered in harvesting waters, food poisoning outbreak, etc.