Phil Busby*, Catherine Seamer
Food Assurance Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, P. O. Box 2526, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND, Phone 0064 4 4744 167, Fax 0064 4744 239, busbyp@maf.govt.nz

Abstract (Key Words: biotoxin, WTO, validation, regulatory management)

Since New Zealand's first marine biotoxin event in 1992/1993, marine biotoxin management has advanced to a fully integrated two-tier programme involving phytoplankton monitoring with gene probe testing to differentiate toxigenic species and shellfish toxicity testing. Currently shellfish testing involves mouse bioassay screen testing for the DSP and NSP groups with confirmatory testing approved for ASP (HPLC and LC-MS), PSP (mouse bioassay), OA and DTX-1 (DSP ELISA Check Kit, PP2A or LC-MS), PTXs and YTXs (LC-MS).

Development, validation, approval and implementation of LC-MS methods for all groups of marine biotoxins has progressed throughout 2001 along with the expansion of the gene probe development programme.

Issues that have been encountered during the development, validation, approval and implementation of these new marine biotoxin management practices such as test method validation, toxin standards, lack of international expertise, and market access will be discussed.