EU narrows processors’ time limit for salmon stiffening

Published 2024년 4월 18일

Tridge summary

In December 2023, the European Parliament approved new regulations introduced by the European Commission that set a 96-hour limit on the stiffening process of salmon fillets, a method crucial for ease of slicing and preventing bacterial contamination like Listeria. This decision, which overrides the previous flexibility processors had in determining the duration of this process, has raised concerns among salmon processors about potential job losses, increased food waste, and harm to the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU's fish processing industry. Despite these concerns, the regulation aims to enhance food safety and reduce waste. Additionally, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has provided a scientific opinion on methods for detecting and killing parasites in fish, highlighting that fish from closed recirculating aquaculture systems are almost certainly free of zoonotic parasites, contributing to the ongoing discussions about food safety and industry practices.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The European Parliament has passed changes to a regulation for smoked salmon processing put forward by the European Commission in December 2023, rejecting concerns from fish processors and seafood supply chains.The adjustments focus on “stiffening,” a longstanding process used by processors, whereby the ambient temperature of fresh salmon fillets are reduced to between -4 and -14 degrees Celsius to make slicing easier. The procedure also provides additional safeguards against harmful bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes.While stiffening is regulated under Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards, until now, processors have been determining their own stiffening times. However, the European Commission has now adopted a new regulation imposing a 96-hour time limit on the process.Salmon processors warned the European Parliament the delegated regulation change could lead to large-scale job losses, particularly in regions traditionally reliant on the industry. ...

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