Response to Defra on Draft European Commission proposal concerning parasites in fishery products

Summary

If adopted the draft text of SANCO/11487/2010 rev1 (cis) will amend the current public health requirements concerning parasites in fishery products contained in Regulation 853/2004 and bring them into line with the latest scientific evidence. This follows an EFSA Scientific Opinion available at: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1543.htm. The draft proposal sets out revised freezing requirements for fishery products intended to be consumed raw, cold smoked or which are not subject to a processing treatment sufficient to destroy any parasites that may be present before consumption, revised freezing exemptions, and the conditions under which appropriate monitoring programmes and documentation may be required. While Seafish welcomes the new proposed time/temperature conditions for parasite inactivation, Seafish comments about the practical consequences of monitoring, labelling and documentation that will result if the proposal is adopted.

Publication date

01 February 2011