BORDEAUX - The sale and consumption of oysters from the Arcachon basin are once again prohibited following unfavorable biological tests, with the exception of those from Banc d'Arguin, the area located at the entrance to the basin, said on Wednesday prefecture.
The sale and consumption of oysters from the Arcachon basin are again prohibited following unfavorable biological tests, with the exception of those from Banc d'Arguin, the area located at the entrance to the basin. (Reuters / Régis Duvignau)
The sale and consumption of oysters from the Arcachon basin are again prohibited following unfavorable biological tests, with the exception of those from Banc d'Arguin, the area located at the entrance to the basin. (Reuters / Régis Duvignau)
Mussels from the entire basin are also prohibited.
"The results of the biological tests transmitted today (...) from the samples of mussels and oysters taken on August 24, 2009 in the production areas of the Arcachon basin were found to be positive with the exception of the test carried out on the sample of oysters taken from the production area of Banc d'Arguin, "said the prefecture in a press release.
According to the regulations in force, "this ban remains valid as long as two consecutive analyzes have not been negative".
The next samples will be taken on August 27 and 31 and the results will be known on September 2.
Last week, oysters and mussels from all production areas were authorized after a week of ban on oysters from Banc d'Arguin alone.
Oyster farmers are contesting the validity of the "mouse test" which has led to several bans for five years and the sixth since the beginning of May.
The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Bruno Le Maire, has obtained a European scientific conference on the subject to be held on September 10 and 11 in Brussels with the aim of developing a control protocol replacing it from the start of 2010.
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