Update on Changes to Seafood Labelling 2014 Peter Wilson
CLG July 2013 Update on Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FIC) Reference also made to the draft Common Organisation of the Markets Regulation (CMO) and likely new consumer information requirements
Today s update Consider a few of the requirements of the FIC that impact on Fishery Products Focus on the consumer information requirements under the CMO
Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FIC) Came into force December 2011 Effective from 13th December 2014 Nutrition declaration from 13 th December 2016
For Fishery Products declaration of: Defrosted Formed First date of freezing
Defrosted does not apply to: ingredients present in the final product; foods for which freezing is a technologically necessary step of the production process; foods for which the defrosting has no negative impact on the safety or quality of the food.
Formed Where a fishery product gives the impression that it is made of a whole piece of fish but is made from more than one it should be labelled formed
Date of Freezing New requirement Applies to unprocessed product as defined under hygiene regulations Defra guidance is that this is when first frozen for the consumer Once the product is used as an ingredient it no longer has to declare first date of freezing.
Fish Product Whole (H+G) fish frozen at sea, thawed, filleted and frozen for the consumer Whole prawn cooked. Breaded fish portions and fish fingers. Date of First Freezing Label Date of freezing of fillets Processed product Not required Fish is an ingredient Not required
Common Organisation of the Markets Regulation 1379/2013 (CMO) Includes consumer information requirements Effective from December 13 th 2014
Consumer information applies to customs code CN03 products CN03 applies to live, fresh and frozen fishery products with no added ingredients other than salt. Also includes smoked fish CN1604 & CN1605 applies to fishery products with added ingredients or have been further processed, preserved, treated or cooked
Existing consumer information requirements applicable to CN03 products Commercial name Scientific name Area where caught of farmed Production method
New CMO Regulation 1379/2013 extends current consumer information requirements to include Whether defrosted Date of minimum durability Category of fishing gear More detail for some catch areas Allows for additional voluntary information
Defrosted does not apply to: ingredients present in the final product foods for which freezing is a technologically necessary step of the production process If previously frozen for food safety If defrosting takes place before smoking, salting, cooking, pickling or drying
Date of minimum durability the date of minimum durability, where appropriate FIC does not apply to non prepacked
Category of fishing gear Seines Trawls Gillnets and similar nets Surrounding nets and lift nets Hooks and lines Dredges Pots and traps More detail prescribed
Indication of catch or production area - current requirement Caught at sea reference to one of 12 catch areas based upon FAO classifications A more precise catch area can be indicated Caught in freshwater reference to Member state or third country of origin Farmed - reference to Member State or third country in which it underwent final development
Catch areas - FAO
Current catch areas Catch area Identification of area North West Atlantic FAO area 21 North- East Atlantic FAO area 27 Baltic Sea FAO area 27.IIId Central-Western Atlantic FAO area 31 Central-Eastern Atlantic FAO area 34 South-West Atlantic FAO area 41 South-East Atlantic FAO area 47 Mediterranean Sea FAO areas 37.1, 37.2 and 37.3 Black Sea FAO area 37.4 Indian Ocean FAO areas 51 and 57 Pacific Ocean FAO areas 61, 67, 71, 77, 81 and 87 Antarctic FAO areas 48, 58 and 88
Indication of catch or production areas new requirement For Northeast Atlantic (FAO 27) and the Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO 37) the name in writing of the subarea or division listed in the FAO fishing areas, as well as the name of such zone expressed in terms understandable to the consumer, or a map or pictogram showing that zone For other areas the indication of the name of the FAO fishing area Freshwater and aquaculture product areas also defined
Indication of catch or production areas For Northeast Atlantic (FAO 27) and the Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO 37) the name in writing of the sub-area or division listed in the FAO fishing areas, as well as the name of such zone expressed in terms understandable to the consumer, or a map or pictogram showing that zone
NORTHEAST ATLANTIC FAO Areas 27 Sub Areas and divisions I to VII SUB NAME DIVISION NAME AREA I Barents Sea I a I b Barents Sea NEAFC Regulatory Area Barents Sea Non-NEAFC Regulatory Area II Norwegian Sea, Spitzbergen and Bear Island II a II b Norwegian Sea Spitzbergen and Bear Island III Skaggerak, Kattegat, Sound, Belt Sea and Baltic Sea III a III b, c III d IV North Sea IV a IV b IV c V Iceland and Faroes Grounds V a V b Skaggerak and Kattegat Sound and Belt Sea or Transition area Baltic Sea Northern North Sea Central North Sea Southern North Sea Iceland Grounds Faroes Grounds VI VII Rockall, Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland (Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland also known as West of Scotland) Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, Eastern English Channel, Western English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea North, Celtic Sea South, Southwest of Ireland East and Southwest of Ireland - West VI a VI b VII a VII b VII c VII d VII e VII f VII g VII h VII j VII k Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland or as West of Scotland Rockall Irish Sea West of Ireland Porcupine Bank Eastern English Channel Western English Channel Bristol Channel Celtic Sea North Celtic Sea South Southwest of Ireland East Southwest of Ireland - West
Indication of catch or production areas For Northeast Atlantic (FAO 27) and the Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO 37) the name in writing of the sub-area or division listed in the FAO fishing areas, as well as the name of such zone expressed in terms understandable to the consumer, or a map or pictogram showing that zone
What is understandable to the consumer? SUB NAME DIVISION NAME AREA I Barents Sea I a I b Barents Sea NEAFC Regulatory Area Barents Sea Non-NEAFC Regulatory Area II Norwegian Sea, Spitzbergen and Bear Island II a II b Norwegian Sea Spitzbergen and Bear Island III Skaggerak, Kattegat, Sound, Belt Sea and Baltic Sea III a III b, c III d IV North Sea IV a IV b IV c V Iceland and Faroes Grounds V a V b Skaggerak and Kattegat Sound and Belt Sea or Transition area Baltic Sea Northern North Sea Central North Sea Southern North Sea Iceland Grounds Faroes Grounds VI VII Rockall, Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland (Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland also known as West of Scotland) Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, Eastern and Western English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea North and South, Southwest of Ireland East and West VI a VI b VII a VII b VII c VII d VII e VII f VII g VII h VII j VII k Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland or as West of Scotland Rockall Irish Sea West of Ireland Porcupine Bank Eastern English Channel Western English Channel Bristol Channel Celtic Sea North Celtic Sea South Southwest of Ireland East Southwest of Ireland - West
Indication of catch or production areas For Northeast Atlantic (FAO 27) and the Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO 37) the name in writing of the sub-area or division listed in the FAO fishing areas, as well as the name of such zone expressed in terms understandable to the consumer, or a map or pictogram showing that zone
For other areas the indication of the name of the FAO fishing area Some of current catch areas cover more than one FAO area
Additional voluntary information Date of catch or harvest Date of landing More detailed information on the type of fishing gear Flag state of fishing vessel Environmental Ethical or social nature Production techniques Nutritional content
Interaction between CMO and FIC? FIC applies unless the CMO provides more specific rules FIC excludes non pre-packed
Interaction between CMO and FIC? Use by is where appropriate as CMO includes non prepacked Defrosted CMO includes non prepacks Nutrition FIC also excludes unprocessed single ingredient foods which will apply to CN03 so inclusion voluntary
So were from here? We are talking to Trade Bodies and Government Departments in developing guidance for FIC and CMO Running industry seminars Dealing with a lot of enquiries
Questions?