Norwegian seafood industry group Sjømatbedriftene has criticised Sjømat Norge’s decision to support lifting Norway’s ban on exports of unprocessed production fish, warning the move could weaken confidence in Norwegian salmon quality internationally.
The comments highlight growing divisions within Norway’s seafood sector over rules governing so-called “production fish”, salmon with wounds, deformities, sexual maturation or other quality deviations that currently must generally be corrected domestically before export for human consumption.
Sjømatbedriftene, which represents seafood processors and smaller industry players across the value chain, has traditionally been more closely aligned with Norway’s processing sector than Sjømat Norge, whose membership is dominated by larger salmon farming companies.
Last week, Sjømat Norge’s board backed removing restrictions on exports of uncorrected production fish, arguing the move could help secure continued seafood market access to the European Union.
The issue has long been contentious within the industry because production fish represents an important raw material source for Norwegian processing plants and associated employment, while international processors have argued the current system distorts competition.
The Danish Seafood Association has previously called for the removal of the Norwegian export restrictions, arguing Danish processors are forced to import higher-grade salmon while Norwegian processors retain access to lower-cost production fish domestically.
The rules also became a focal point in the dispute surrounding the harvest vessel Norwegian Gannet, which ultimately received an exemption allowing offshore processing and export.
Sjømatbedriftene CEO Robert H. Eriksson said the current quality regulations, which date back to the early 1990s, were designed to protect product quality, consumer confidence and the reputation of Norwegian farmed seafood.
The organisation also disputed claims that the existing framework clearly breaches EEA trade rules, noting that ESA closed its review of the issue in 2021 without opening infringement proceedings against Norway.
Sjømatbedriftene said it would actively oppose regulatory changes allowing exports of uncorrected production fish.