Live bivalve molluscs: areas classified before 2019 need no new sanitary survey unless monitoring shows significant changes — Regulation (EU) 2026/1406
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1406 of 26 June 2026, published on 29 June, amends Article 56 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 on official controls of products of animal origin. A sanitary survey of a production or relaying area for live bivalve molluscs is carried out before a new area is classified and when monitoring data or other information point to significant changes in environmental conditions that may significantly and permanently affect the results of the previous sanitary survey. The provision requiring a survey in all already classified areas is repealed.
- A sanitary survey comprises an inventory of sources of pollution of human or animal origin, an examination of the quantities of organic pollutants released during different periods of the year (catchment population, rainfall, sewage treatment) and the determination of pollutant circulation from current patterns, bathymetry and the tidal cycle (Article 56(1) of Regulation 2019/627).
- The former Article 56(2) required such a survey in all classified areas “unless it was carried out previously”. The Commission justifies the change by experience: in areas classified before Regulation 2019/627 entered into force and covered by a monitoring programme, a survey is not necessary unless the data show changes that may permanently affect the classification.
- Classification is still based on E. coli per 100 g of flesh and intravalvular liquid: class A — 80% of samples in the review period at most 230, the rest at most 700; class B — 90% at most 4,600, the rest at most 46,000; class C — at most 46,000 (Articles 53–55). Molluscs from class B areas may be placed on the market for human consumption only after purification or relaying.
- Monitoring of classified areas (Article 59) covers the microbiological quality of the molluscs, toxin-producing plankton and marine biotoxins, and chemical contaminants — the data that now decide whether a new sanitary survey is needed. The regulation entered into force on the twentieth day after publication.