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Image: Institute of Marine Research / FIS
Norwegian Farmed Fish Tested for Undesirable Substances
NORWAY
Friday, June 28, 2024, 07:00 (GMT + 9)
The results of the annual monitoring of Norwegian farmed fish show that the levels of pharmaceuticals and environmental toxins are below the limit value, but an illegal substance was found in one of the samples.
Every year, the Institute of Marine Research examines Norwegian farmed fish for environmental toxins, illegal substances and drug residues on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
Source: Institute of Marine Research
This is a control system in accordance with the EU's regulations, to ensure that Norwegian farmed fish that goes out to consumers do not contain illegal substances or environmental toxins and pharmaceuticals above set limits. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority collects the samples, while the Institute of Marine Research is responsible for the analyses.
"The levels of both pharmaceuticals and environmental toxins were below the limit value, but we found an illegal substance in one of the samples", says researcher Annette Bernhard.
Found traces of testosterone
 In 2023, HI examined samples from 1,815 farmed fish. Based on new regulations introduced in 2023, fewer fish are taken, but more substances are analyzed in the same sample.
A fifth of the fish were analyzed for illegal substances, such as growth hormones.
"Testosterone was detected in one sample. The discovery was reported to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, which followed up with further investigations of the sample", explains Bernhard.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority's follow-up concluded that contamination during sampling was the cause of the finding.
Lice agents below the limit value
As in previous years, residues of the lice agents emamectin and imidacloprid were also found in fillet samples in 2023, but the levels were below the limit value.
Residues of cypermethrin and deltamethrin were also found in several samples. These are substances that can be used as lice remedies, but they can also be used as pesticides and may thus have been transferred to the fish through the feed. These samples also showed levels below the limit value.
Other veterinary drugs, such as antibiotics or drugs used against intestinal parasites, were not found in any of the samples.
Environmental toxins and PFAS below limit value
Source: Institute of Marine Research
For environmental toxins, there are currently limit values for dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, total PCB-6 and the heavy metals mercury, lead and cadmium.
"We find several of these environmental toxins in farmed fish, but the levels do not exceed the limit values", says Bernhard.
Last year, limit values were introduced for four PFAS compounds (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS), in addition to the sum of these. In 2023, PFAS were analyzed in almost 300 samples. Of the four PFAS compounds with a limit value, only PFNA and PFOS were found in measurable quantities, these were found in 0.3 per cent and 4 per cent of the samples respectively.
"Of these two, PFOS had the largest contribution to the sum of PFAS, but the levels were well below the limit values", says Bernhard.
Author: Anders Jakobsen | Institute of Marine Research (Translated from the original in Norwegian)
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