Epidemiological results obtained recently, including the surveillance carried out in ParaFishControl project, reveals that the overall risk of parasite infection in farmed fish is negligible. To continuously ensure that the risk of zoonotic parasites is close to zero, actions including enacting monitoring plans, the compliance of identification and traceability and the compliance with good handling practices for prevention of parasites contamination, should be implemented. These actions are included in the proposed sectorial Voluntary Control System (VCS) which will allow to minimize the risk of the presence of viable parasites that could represent a health hazard. The VCS summarizes the objectives, structure, rules and guidelines of a sectorial VCS to strength the competitiveness of the European Aquaculture and increasing the consumers’ confidence. The VCS is based on an AENOR (Spanish Association for Normalization and Certification) certification that verifies that the companies who have obtained it are implementing measures to prevent the presence of anisakis as well as an exhaustive analytical control plan.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- To raise awareness and possibly influence policy
- Business partners – SMEs, Entrepreneurs, Large Corporations
Certification agencies that could take into account the VCS to create the certification that verifies that “Aquaculture Fishery Products Exclusively Reared in an Environment Free of Viable Anisakis”
- EU and Member State Policy-makers
- International Organisations (ex. OECD, FAO, UN, etc.)
- Other Actors who can help us fulfil our market potential
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
The system has been developed and is ready to be implemented. The bodies to regulate this system need to be put in place at EU, regional or national level.
