The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has updated its information on labelling on board freezer vessels.
It says that all boxes or blocks of frozen products caught within the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) Convention Area, which includes all waters surrounding Ireland, must be physically labelled on board at the time of stowage.
All containers must have labels which include:
- the name of the vessel,
- the three-letter Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations species code,
- the production date,
- the catch area (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) sub-area and division) and
- the identification mark containing the vessel’s approval number.
Where frozen products are stored in 3kg and 9kg cartons or boxes, both the 3kg and 9kg containers shall be labelled. Labels must be affixed to each container.
Affixing must ensure that such labels remain associated with that container throughout storage and transport,it says.
Operators of freezer vessels pre-packing products for the final consumer must also ensure that their labels include the mandatory information to the final consumer, it says.
Sample labels and further guidance for freezer vessel operators and food business can be found on a fisheries information notice which can be accessed on the SFPA website under this link.
