Annual monitoring confirms: Norwegian farmed fish continues to be a safe choice

Once again, the fresh annual monitoring report from the IMR for farmed fish shows no exceedance of the EU's limit values for illegal and undesirable substances. Tests from 2024 were done on samples from 888 farmed fish, with a collection of more than 30,000 test results confirming the seafood’s safety.

– We’re delighted to see that once again, tests done on Norwegian farmed fish shows no sign of exceeding limits on harmful substances or pollutants. This shows that Norway’s rigorous monitoring scheme give consumers globally the confidence to eat farmed Norwegian fish that has a clean bill of health, says Martin Skaug, director of communications at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

This is how the annual monitoring works

• The annual monitoring is required under Norwegian law and EU regulations.
• Samples are collected by The Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
• The IMR analyzes the samples and reports the findings.
• The annual tests are done mainly on farmed salmon, but species such as rainbow trout, trout, halibut, and cod are also analyzed.
• Some samples are taken at fish farms and include fish at all life stages.
• Other samples are collected at slaughterhouses, representing farmed fish ready for the market.
• The monitoring checks for illegal substances, medicines and environmental pollutants, as well as PAH – residues from the smoking process for smoked fish.

Ensuring safety: Norwegian farmed fish must be controlled every year

Every year, the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) checks Norwegian farmed fish on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. This annual monitoring is a requirement under both Norwegian law and EU regulations.

The goal is to ensure that Norwegian farmed fish and products from farmed fish do not contain undesirable substances at harmful levels. Monitoring and control also play an important part in ensuring that illegal substances are not used in farming. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority takes the samples, while the IMR analyzes and reports the results they find.

– The annual monitoring and reporting process plays a crucial role in the Norwegian management and regulation of aquaculture, ensuring that the industry complies with legal requirements. It is also essential to gather information on how environmental factors may affect the fish, says Skaug.

You can access the full report from the IMR here (English).

Monitoring illegal substances, medicines and environmental pollutants

No residues of illegal drugs were detected in the newest monitoring. Researchers tested for unauthorized drugs and substances with anabolic effects, such as growth hormones.

Samples tested for approved veterinary medicines and environmental pollutants were collected at slaughterhouses. According to the IMR, veterinary medicines, such as antibiotics or drugs used against internal parasites, were not found in the samples. Residues of some lice treatments were found, but all were below the limit values. No environmental pollutants such as PFAS, dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, mercury, lead, or cadmium were found above the EU's limit value in any of the samples.

Analyzing new types of contaminants

In 2024, several new substances were included in the monitoring. These are chemical compounds referred to as "contaminants of emerging concern." Though some of these contaminants were found in some samples, there is not enough information on these new substances to prove they might be harmful. There is need for more data to assess whether there is any health risk associated with them.

– Including new types of contaminants in the tests shows how the IMR works on the monitoring of farmed fish, and how it’s based on precautionary principles, trying to assess risks as early as possible. This is an important part of the scientific approach of the annual monitoring, always trying to stay ahead of potential risks that might emerge, Skaug explains.

The new substances detected will continue to be monitored, according to the IMR. The data will be submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Read the full article on the annual report from the IMR here (Norwegian).