Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) (No.2) Order 1998 and shall come into force at 22.00 hours on 29th June 1998.

(2) In this Order "scallops" means scallops of the class of pecten maximus and queen scallops of the class of chlamys opercularis, and "relevant time" means 00.01 hours on 30th June 1998.

Designated circumstances

2. In the opinion of the Secretary of State, scallops in the area designated in article 3 below may be affected by the toxin which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning in human beings and are likely to create a hazard to human health of they are consumed.

Designated area

3. The area described in the Schedule to this Order is hereby designated for the purposes of Part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

Activity prohibited in the designated area

4. No person shall fish for or take any scallops in the designated area.

Prohibited movement of scallops

5. No person shall move any scallops out of the designated area.

Restrictions throughout the United Kingdom

6. No person shall in the United Kingdom or in United Kingdom waters-�

(a)use any scallops taken out of the designated area after the relevant time in the preparation or processing for supply of food and anything from which food could be derived,

(b)land any scallops which were in waters in the designated area after the relevant time,

(c)supply, or have in possession for supply, any scallops which were in the designated areas after the relevant time,

(d)supply, or have in possession for supply, any food or anything from which food could be derived in the preparation or processing of which anything was used in contravention of paragraph (a) of this article,

(e)feed to any creature a feeding stuff in the preparation or processing of which anything was used in contravention of paragraph (a) of this article.

Article 3

SCHEDULETHE DESIGNATED AREA

That area of sea to the east of the Orkney Islands bounded by a line extending from a point at 59°30'N 2°30'W then due east to a point at 59°30'N 1°30'W then due south to a point at 59°N 1°30'W then due west to a point at 59°N 2°30'W then due north to the start point.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order contains emergency prohibitions restricting various activities in order to prevent human consumption of food rendered unsuitable for that purpose by virtue of shellfish having been affected by the toxin which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning in human beings.

The Order designates an area of sea within which taking scallops is prohibited (articles 3 and 4 and the Schedule). It prohibits the movement of such shellfish out of that area (article 5). Other restrictions are imposed throughout the United Kingdom in relation to the use of any such shellfish taken from that area (article 6).

Under section 21 of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 the penalty for contravening an emergency prohibition is-�

(a)on summary conviction, a fine of an amount not exceeding the statutory maximum (at present £5,000);

(b)on conviction on indictment, an unlimited fine, or imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or both.

Powers of enforcement in relation to emergency prohibitions are conferred by section 4 of, and Schedule 2 to, the 1985 Act. Obstruction of enforcement officers is an offence under paragraph 10 of that Schedule.