GNR seizes 921 kilos of Japanese clams in Alcochete

The GNR seized 921 kilos of Japanese clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) in an irregular situation and prepared 19 reports of administrative offenses, in the municipality of Alcochete, district of Setúbal, that security force announced this Sunday.

In a statement, the GNR explained that the action was carried out last Thursday by the Montijo Territorial Detachment, belonging to the Setúbal Territorial Command.

The inspection operation was aimed at complying with current legislation regarding the control of the collection, transport and sale of Live Bivalve Molluscs (MBV).

A GNR source contacted by Lusa news agency revealed that the military carried out this inspection at Praia do Samouco, in the municipality of Alcochete, and that, upon their arrival at the site, “the Japanese clam collected from the Tagus River was abandoned and seized without an owner”.

In the statement, the Guard indicated that 921 kilos of Japanese clams were detected and seized, due to the lack of the respective Live Bivalve Mollusc Registration Document.

The absence of this document, according to the GNR, made it impossible to determine the origin of the product and verify compliance with applicable legal standards, particularly with regard to traceability, which constitutes “a potential risk to public health”.

“The bivalves, after hygiene checks, will be destroyed,” the GNR added.

In this operation, 12 men, aged between 22 and 53, and seven women, aged between 27 and 39, were identified as targets of the administrative offences drawn up by the GNR military under the law on foreigners.

According to the security force, 10 of these fines were for illegal stay in the country for a period exceeding 30 days, four for failure to comply with the duty to communicate a change of address, another four for lack of a European Citizen Certificate and one for failure to declare entry into national territory.

“The situations were confirmed through consultation of the available information systems, with the support of the Borders and Foreigners Coordination Unit (UCFE), and 10 new notifications were also issued for voluntary abandonment of the national territory,” said the Guard.

The operation was reinforced by the Almada Territorial Detachment, the Setúbal Intervention Detachment (DI) and the Lisbon Territorial Immigration Inspection Unit (NFTI), as well as the Coastal and Border Control Unit (UCCF).

"The capture, storage, and transportation of bivalves without purification or hygiene control can pose a serious risk to public health, given the possible presence of toxins," the GNR recalled.

The registration document, he emphasized, is essential to prevent the irregular introduction of these products into consumption, thus ensuring consumer safety.