At the initiative of the Norwegian Standards Organization – Standards Norway, preparation of the European Standard (CEN) for labelling of fish products in the trade such as pallets and distribution units, e.g. fish boxes or carton boxes with consumer units is currently on the way.
The standard numbered 17099 is developed by a working group led by the Standards Norway together with representatives from GS1 Norway, GS1 Ireland, GS1 Denmark and the German Standards for Automatic Identification. The representative of the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute was invited to be a member of the working group and took part in a meeting held in Oslo on 27-28 June 2017.
The process of preparation of the standard is planned for three years. Currently the final arrangements of the standard content are under way, followed by a vote on the standard text by the CEN member countries. During the meeting in Oslo necessary amendments were made to the content of the standard. A set of relevant standards and regulations as reference documents has been defined. Definitions included in the standards and also issues related to the transport of fishery products have been clarified. It was determined that the labelling requirements contained in the standard would conform to the requirements of the international GS1 data transfer standards or ASC Data Identifiers.
When the standard development process will be completed, it will be in force in CEN member countries. It will facilitate the traceability requirements fulfilment and trade of fish products by harmonizing the labels on pallets and distribution units of fish and seafood products in the supply chain.
Olga Szulecka, NMFRI
Members of the working group on the preparation of European Standards for labelling of distribution units and pallets in the trade of fish and seafood products
