Norwegian Salmon is Safe to Eat

SHANGHAI and HONG KONG, Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Norwegian Seafood Council would like to reassure the public that Norwegian salmon is safe and healthy to eat.

The Chinese Government has alerted a full stop in import of whole Norwegian salmon with effect from September 10^th 2014, due to concerns that a certain fish illness could affect Chinese aquaculture. The reason was never due to food safety or concerns for the consumers.

There is no change in the safety or healthiness of Norwegian salmon. The ISA virus, which have been subject to some media attention in China in recent days, is solely a fish illness, and cannot be transferred to humans. Also: Fish illnesses are not transferrable to humans or related to human sicknesses, on which there have been several misunderstandings in Chinese media over the last few days.

The whole media story, about the new AQSIQ regulations concerning the imports of Norwegian salmon was somehow due to food safety concerns, is based on misinterpretations and misunderstandings.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authorities clearly states that:

• Norwegian salmon is safe to eat, as there is no connection between commonly known fish diseases and human diseases. Fish illnesses are not transferable to humans or related to human sicknesses, on which there have been several misunderstandings in Chinese media over the last few days.
• Norwegian Food Safety Authorities also states that only fish of superior quality can be exported from Norway. Fish showing signs of sickness are not allowed for export due to these strict quality regulations. Norwegian Food Safety Authorities further states that no fish illnesses, such as ISA, is transferable to humans and does not pose any risk for human health whatsoever.

Norway's food safety monitoring and control systems are world class, and it's regulations concerning food safety and control are harmonized with those in the EU. In addition to corporate self-monitoring, authorities sampled 11,500 salmon last year, without detecting a single sample with findings of chemicals or contaminants above the safe limits. Norwegian salmon is exported to more than 100 countries all over the world and enjoyed in more than 14 million meals daily. Norwegian salmon is subject to thorough control from Norwegian, international and several single countries food safety authorities. Any alerts on the quality or food safety on Norwegian salmon would immediately have been reported to Norway and international organizations, as regulated internationally.

Consumers both home in Norway and in China wants to be sure about the food they are eating, and they should be - and they should indeed continue to enjoy the fish they have come to love.

We as the representative of the producers of Norwegian seafood, have to accept that there is a distance between Norway and China where misunderstandings like this can occur. Then it is our job to reassure the Chinese consumers and importers that the salmon is safe, also when there are severe misunderstandings suggesting something else. We are among others doing this job with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.