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Sep 27, 2017 - Foods

Retailers' responsibility to visually inspect for parasites in fishery products

Visual inspections for parasites in fishery products are mandatory for food business operators at the retail level if activities such as gutting, cutting, and filleting are carried out. This was decided by the ALTS at the 77th working meeting. The visual inspections are to be conducted according to Annex III of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004.

Fishery products that are clearly infested with parasites must not be placed on the market for human consumption. The guideline is the decision of the 60th ALTS working meeting on parasites in wild salmon. The presence of more than 20 parasites per kilogram of wild salmon is considered highly contaminated and unacceptable for human consumption (assessment according to Article 14 paragraph 2b of Regulation (EC) 178/2002).