Italian Officials Seize Yellowfin Sans Labels

The Italian Coast Guard seized over 26 tons of seafood, including yellowfin, squid, and grey mullet, from a plant in Sassari in Northern Sardinia. According to officials, over seven tons of yellowfin, confiscated in the operation, lacked the necessary traceability and labeling, and were stored in violation of European consumer information regulations, reported Italian news site L’Unione Sarda. The paperwork that came with the fish shipments listed some companies in the documents were not officially registered businesses on the island. Checks were also conducted in nearby Nuoro, where authorities found more seafood stored in violation of EU rules.

The irregularities led to the imposition of two administrative fines of EUR 3,000, in total, in addition to the seizure of the entire quantity of goods. The EU General Food Law (EC 178/2002) requires food to be safe and fully traceable at all stages of its supply chain. It obliges food businesses to withdraw unsafe products from the EU market, and provide accurate information to protect consumers.