Quality assurance

Fish handling and processing is controlled by Law No 55/1998 on the handling, processing and distribution of seafood and Law No 54/1992 on the processing of all catch on-board fishing vessels. A number of regulations issued by the Ministry of Fisheries also relate to quality assurance and product safety, most notably regulations No 233/1999 on the safe handling, processing and distribution of seafood and regulation No 558/1997 on in-house quality control during processing. These acts and regulations are only available in the Icelandic language.

Quality of seafood is based on many attributes. Details of workmanship are built into specifications between processors and their customers but basic requirements relate to raw material quality, safety, hygiene and identity. These requirements must not be compromised by any processor since this would be a breach of Iceland's national and international commitments and would jeopardise the value and good name of Icelandic products on the international market.

It is the function of MAST to ensure that the basic quality of Icelandic seafood is upheld by ensuring compliance with laws and regulations relating to the proper and safe handling of seafood. This

Every land based plant and on-board processor must hold a valid processing license. The licenses are issued by MAST on the basis of certain requirements: The health and safety authorities must have approved the premises, the processor must have completed a contract with an Inspection Body, MAST must have approved the premises for seafood production and the processor must have in his employment qualified personnel for in-house quality management. Every approved processor is identified by his license number, including export documents for some markets.

Law No 55/1998 - On the handling, processing and distribution of seafood.

The stated general intent of this Act is to ensure that consumers of Icelandic seafood receive products that are wholesome, in line with quality requirements, processed under satisfactory conditions of hygiene and labelled and declared in a satisfactory manner.

MAST is responsible for co-operation with regulatory bodies and official inspection agencies in countries importing Icelandic seafood and for issuing various certificates for seafood in line with official requirements in the importing countries. The certificates establish that the products have been processed, stored and transported under conditions fulfilling official requirements in the importing countries. The certificates include:

• Confirmation that products for the U.S. market have been processed in accordance with quality management by the system of Hazards Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP),
• Health Certificate for imports to the European Union,
• Certificate of inspection for exports to other countries,
• Animal health certificate for fishmeal exports.

MAST is also responsible for the quality control of fishery products imported from countries outside the European Economic Area. Accordingly, the Icelandic authorities have established border control ports to carry out this regulatory function.

Matís and MAST