According to the report the feed samples were largely below EU’s limit for maximum content, where these limits exist, and only showed a few findings of undesirable substances above this limit. The feed samples monitored were collected in 2008 and 2009. Surveillance of undesirable components in the feed for farmed fish is necessary to have control of the entire production chain for farmed fish. It is also an important element in determining the feed safety.
Feed for farmed fish comes from relatively few sources and its components are affected by the feed so extensive monitoring is necessary to get a good overall picture of the food safety of farmed fish. Surveillance data of this kind is also needed to make reliable risk assessments related to farmed fish.
Results of the samples show that the level of banned substances, additives, specific bacteria, fungicides, specific pharmaceuticals, herbicides, dioxin, PCB and various metals in fish feed was mapped. In 2008 a total of 359 samples of fish feed or fish feed raw materials were collected and analysed.
The results from 2008 and 2009 show that largely the findings did not exceed the EU’s limit for maximum content, where such values exists, for organic environmental toxins, including dioxin, dioxin-like PCB and pesticides. In a few cases, the level of arsenic was above the limit. However, the limit for arsenic has now been increased as research has shown that this is safe for both fish and the consumer.
Fish feed and fish feed raw materials can contain undesirable substances which, in turn, can negatively affect the fish itself and in turn the fish consumed by humans, as well as being an environmental pollutant. The fish feed surveillance programme provides data for use in the management of these areas.
