MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR VETERINARY CONTROL ON SEAFOOD PRODUCTS IMPORTED TO NORWAY FROM THIRD COUNTRIES – RESULTS FROM 2017 – In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 136/2004, Annex II, Part 1.

Abstract

This report summarises results from 2017 from the ongoing monitoring programme for veterinary border control for seafood products imported to Norway from countries outside the European Economic Area. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out the analytical work on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), in cooperation with the personnel at the Norwegian Border Inspection Posts (BIP). We want to thank NFSA for very good cooperation during the conduct of this monitoring programme. An up to date risk assessment for different groups of imported products, made basis for the sampling plans and the selection of analytical activities. The current trend of hazards, as reported in The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification system, the compositional nature of the products and the annual import quantity of relevant products, are evaluated in this risk assessment. A total of 116 samples from the NFSA at the Norwegian BIP, have been examined by a selection of methods for microorganisms, parasites and undesirable chemical compounds during 2017. The analytical results are listed in Annex 1 and are summarised below. Microbiological analyses were performed on 116 samples. The results for microbiological indicator organisms for faecal contamination were mostly below detection limit, or showed low bacterial counts, with some exceptions. One samples of cod imported from Thailand had coliform counts of 560 colony-forming units (cfu/g) and enterococci in a concentration of 1600 cfu/g. One sample of marinated eel imported from Thailand had 330 coliforms/g and a thermotolerant coliform count of 30 cfu/g. One sample of seasoned cuttlefish imported from Thailand had high counts of sulphite-reducing bacteria and enterococci with 5100 cfu/g and 400 cfu/g, respectively. Bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae, were detected in three samples of surimi, two samples imported from USA and one sample imported from Vietnam. Listeria monocytogenes (20 cfu/g) were detected in one sample of hoki imported from China. Pathogens in the genus Salmonella were not detected in any of the samples, neither was any disease-causing vibrios. Yeast and fungi were detected in two samples of seasoned cuttlefish imported from Thailand. Parasitological examinations were carried out on 53 fish samples, and nematodes were found in five samples (9 %). The nematodes were dead and thus not infective at the time of analysis. The highest numbers of nematodes were found in two samples of fillet of saithe imported from Russia, with 10 and 11 detected nematodes. Eleven samples originating from aquaculture were analysed for residues of prohibited veterinary medicines (unauthorised dyes and antibacterial agents) in 2017. The programme included the dye compounds crystal violet (CV), leuco crystal violet (LCV), malachite green (MG), leuco malachite green (LMG), brilliant green (BG), and the antibacterial agents chloramphenicol and nitrofuran metabolites. No unauthorised dyes nor prohibited antibacterial agents were detected. Heavy metals were measured in 89 samples. All samples were compliant with the maximum legal limits. The persistent organic pollutants (POPs) dioxins/ furans and PCBs (DLPCBs and NDLPCBs) and the PBDE class of compounds were measured in 29 samples. All samples were compliant with respect to their POPS maximum limits. The levels of PBDEs, which is not regulated with maximum limits, were within a range commonly observed in seafood. For the PAH class of compounds, 11 samples were analysed and found to have low levels, well within the compliant range of their regulatory maximum limits.

MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR VETERINARY CONTROL ON SEAFOOD PRODUCTS IMPORTED TO NORWAY FROM THIRD COUNTRIES – RESULTS FROM 2017 – In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 136/2004, Annex II, Part 1.