Fish is one of the most sensitive foods and therefore great emphasis is placed on preserving its freshness and avoiding damage. The importance of carefully cooling fish immediately after they are caught is undisputed.
The food legislation contains various provisions on the cooling of fish and other foods. It clearly stipulates that an unbroken cooling chain should be kept from fishing, to and during food processing, and that it should be cooled as soon as possible.
Surveys in Iceland have shown that cooling of landed demersal fish catches is insufficient in many cases and many examples of fish being landed poorly frozen or even unfrozen. This is especially true of catches from fishing trips lasting less than 24 hours. It is also too common for fish stored outdoors not to be protected from the sun and external pollution, as good production methods stipulate.
Therefore, the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has issued a regulation to remove any doubts about what rules apply in this regard. The Regulation does not enter into force until 1 September 2012 in order to give those parties who have not complied with its provisions scope to set up the necessary equipment in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation.
Regulation on (4th) amendment to Regulation no. 104/2010 on the entry into force of Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) no. 853/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs of animal origin, as amended.
The news first appeared on the website of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, www.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is.