(1)

Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 lays down specific rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin for food business operators. That Regulation provides that food business operators are to ensure that live bivalve molluscs placed on the market for human consumption do not contain certain marine biotoxins in total quantities, measured in the whole body or any part edible separately, that exceed the limits set out in point 2 of Chapter V of Section VII of Annex III thereto. Point 2(d) of that Chapter sets out the maximum limit for yessotoxins at 1 milligram of yessotoxin equivalent per kilogram.

(2)

In December 2008, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted an Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food chain on a request from the European Commission on marine biotoxins in shellfish — yessotoxin group (2). According to that Opinion, in a series of acute toxicity studies following oral administration of yessotoxins, no lethality and no clinical signs of toxicity were observed. In addition, EFSA concluded that a portion of shellfish should not contain more than 3,75 milligrams of yessotoxin equivalent per kilogram. That level is above the current limit set out in point 2(d) of Chapter V of Section VII of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

(3)

The 32nd Session of the CODEX Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (1-5 October 2012) confirmed the exclusion of yessotoxins from the list of marine biotoxins that should be tested at international level.

(4)

In the light of the EFSA Opinion and of the conclusions of the 32nd Session of the CODEX Committee on Fish and Fishery Products, it is appropriate to increase the current limit for yessotoxins to 3,75 milligrams yessotoxin equivalent per kilogram.

(5)

Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,

‘(d)

for yessotoxins, 3,75 milligrams of yessotoxin equivalent per kilogram;’.