The ban on catching the Chinese mitten crab in polluted waters will be maintained because of the risk to human health, the cabinet has decided.

A majority of MPs said last week a label on the product would be sufficient to warn consumers about the risks eating the crab may bring.

The previous cabinet introduced the ban in polluted waters after fears the crabmeat was contaminated with cancer-causing dioxins. The crab lives in fresh water but can tolerate and take in heavy metals such as mercury and other toxins.