The Setúbal Territorial Command of the National Republican Guard (GNR) seized over 200 kilograms of Japanese clams in the Alcochete municipality on Tuesday, August 5.
The 202.10 kilograms of shellfish were found inside a vehicle during a roadside check.
The GNR stated in a communiqué that the clams were being transported “without the respective Live Bivalve Mollusk Registration Document.” This document helps determine the origin of the clams and verify compliance with legal standards, “particularly regarding the traceability” of the bivalves.
A 30-year-old man was identified during the operation, and an infraction report was issued for “transporting bivalves without the required documentation.”
All 202.10 kilograms of Japanese clams found will be destroyed by authorities, but only after checking the hygienic conditions of the bivalves to assess if they posed a health risk to potential consumers.
“The GNR reminds that the capture, storage, and transport of bivalves,” the military communiqué continued, “can pose a serious risk to public health due to the possible presence of toxins.”
In this regard, the security force emphasizes that the Live Bivalve Mollusk Registration Document (missing in this case) is “essential to prevent the irregular introduction of these products into consumption, thus ensuring consumer safety.”
