Quality of Shellfish Waters Regulations, 1994.

These Regulations give effect to give effect to Council Directive 79/923/EEC by prescribing quality standards for shellfish waters and designate the waters to which they apply, together with sampling and analysis procedures to be used to determine compliance with the standards. Where shellfish waters do not conform with the quality standards prescribed in these Regulations, the Minister shall, in consultation with the local authority or sanitary authority, establish as far as possible the reasons for nonconformity, whether due to chance, natural factors or to discharges of trade effluent, sewage effluent or other polluting matter and shall adopt an action programme comprising necessary measures where appropriate to ensure conformity with the standards. Local authorities shall do anything in their power to comply with prescribed standards. The Minister may grant departure from the quality standards prescribed in the event of exceptional weather or geographical conditions.