Seafood News Food Safety & Health

Investigation leads to fish seizure in Scotland

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By SeafoodSource staff
07 November, 2012 - More than 200 metric tons (MT) of illegal fish has been seized following one of Scotland’s largest food fraud investigations.

Following a complaint received by local environmental health authorities about fish being illegally exported, about 207 MT of frozen fish, mostly destined for Russia, has been seized by Aberdeen City Council sheriffs.

The seized fish fail to comply with food-safety requirements and will be disposed of to ensure it is not available for consumption.

“Any establishment processing fishery products is required to be officially approved by the local authority which issues a unique identification mark. This identification mark enables products to be traced back to the original producer,” said Ivor Churcher, Aberdeen City Council Environmental Health commercial team leader. “During our investigation, our Environmental Health officers discovered large quantities of unmarked product along with product with an identification mark from a previously approved premises, which had ceased processing. These frozen fishery products were predominantly destined for export to Russia, which offers extensive business opportunities to food business operators.

“The regime for exporting food product to Russia is strictly controlled and subject to approval of the processing establishment by Scottish Government in addition to the approval issued by the local authority. Officers established that the approved identification mark was continuing to be used to export product to Russia although the approval did no longer exist.”

The press release from the Aberdeen City Council did not name the seafood supplier responsible for the illegal exports.

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