Too many deformed salmon being exported, says regulator

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has found that salmon is being sent out of the country with wounds, deformities and other issues.

The authority said a total of 49 inspections were carried out and it was found that 24 of them did not meet the required regulations.

The purpose of the requirements in the regulation is to promote good quality of fish and fish products for consumers, and to contribute to market access for Norwegian fish and fish products abroad.

Farmed fish must be sorted out domestically so that fish with various wounds, deformities, gross processing errors or internal quality defects are not sold abroad for human consumption. The aim of the regulations is partly to protect the overseas reputation of Norwegian farmed fish.

The authority said the inspections were carried out after it received messages and tips from within the industry and from other sources that an increasing number of wounded fish were being sent out of the country.

“We encourage the industry to ensure that their industry standards provide a comprehensive description of the regulatory requirements, says Elisabeth Wilmann, director of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

The Authority believes the purpose of the requirements in the regulation is to promote good quality of fish and fish products for consumers.

She added that the rules were in effect quality regulations to protect the reputation of Norwegian fish.

The authority believes the number of wounded fish finding their way overseas was becoming a growing problem.

“We encourage the industry to ensure that their standards provide a comprehensive description of the regulatory requirements,” said Wilmann.