Monitoring program for pharmaceuticals, illegal substances and contaminants in farmed fish - Annual report for 2020

This report summarises the monitoring data collected in 2020 on the status of illegal substances, pharmaceuticals and contaminants in Norwegian farmed fish. In 2020, a total of 13 845 fish were sampled. Samples examined for illegal compounds were collected at all stages of farming and are representative of farmed fish under production. The samples were analysed for substances with anabolic effects or unauthorized substances. No residues of illegal compounds were detected. Samples tested for approved veterinary drugs and contaminants were collected at processing plants and are representative of Norwegian farmed fish ready for human consumption. Residues of the anti-sea-lice agent emamectin were found in one sample, with a concentration below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). Other veterinary drugs, like antibiotics or drugs used against internal parasites were not found. No environmental contaminants were found above the EU maximum level.publishedVersio

Monitoring program for pharmaceuticals, illegal substances, and contaminants in farmed fish - Annual report for 2021

This report summarises the monitoring data collected in 2021 on the status of illegal substances, pharmaceuticals and contaminants in Norwegian farmed fish. In 2021, a total of 14135 fish were sampled. Samples examined for illegal compounds were collected at all stages of farming and are representative of farmed fish under production. The samples were analysed for substances with anabolic effects or unauthorized substances. Residues of the dye crystal violet were detected in two samples of salmon. A follow-up investigation conducted by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NSFA) concluded with the cause likely being a contamination of the samples during sample taking. No other residues of illegal compounds were found. Samples tested for approved veterinary drugs and contaminants were collected at processing plants and are representative of Norwegian farmed fish ready for human consumption. Residues of the anti-sealice agents cypermethrin, emamectin and lufenuron were found, with concentrations below the respective Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). Other veterinary drugs, like antibiotics or drugs used against internal parasites were not found. No environmental contaminants were found above the EU maximum level (ML).Monitoring program for pharmaceuticals, illegal substances, and contaminants in farmed fish - Annual report for 2021publishedVersio

Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries - Results from 2022

This report summarises results from the ongoing monitoring programme for veterinary border control on seafood products imported to Norway from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area in 2022. Eight samples of products imported in 2021 but analysed in 2022 are also included. Samples were collected by personnel at the Norwegian Border Inspection Posts (BIP). The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out the analytical work on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA). We want to thank NFSA for good cooperation during the conduct of this monitoring programme. A risk assessment for different groups of imported products formed the basis for the selection of analytical activities, where current trend of hazards, as reported in The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification system and the compositional nature of the products and origin formed an up-to-date basis for the risk assessment.Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries - Results from 2022publishedVersio

Monitoring Program for Pharmaceuticals, illegal substances and contaminants in farmed fish - Annual report for 2019

This report summarises the monitoring data collected in 2019 on the status of illegal substances, pharmaceuticals and contaminants in Norwegian farmed fish. A total of 13 725 fish were collected. Samples examined for illegal compounds would be collected at all stages of farming and are representative of farmed fish under production. The samples were analysed for substances with anabolic effects or unauthorized veterinary drugs. No residues of illegal compounds were detected. Samples tested for approved veterinary drugs and contaminants were collected at processing plants and are representative of Norwegian farmed fish ready for human consumption. Residues of anti-sea-lice agents were found in five samples, the levels present were below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for all samples. Other veterinary drugs, like antibiotics or drugs used against internal parasites were not found. No environmental contaminants were found above the EU maximum levels.publishedVersio

Lufenuron treatment temporarily represses gene expression and affects the SUMO pathway in liver of Atlantic salmon

Lufenuron is a benzoylurea insecticide currently in use to combat sea lice infestation in salmon aquaculture in Chile. With pending approval in Norway, the aim of this work was to study the uptake and toxicity of lufenuron in liver tissue of Atlantic salmon. Juvenile salmon weighing 40 g were given a standard 7-day oral dose, and bioaccumulation and transcriptional responses in the liver were examined 1 day after the end-of-treatment (day 8) and after 1 week of elimination (day 14). Bioaccumulation levels of lufenuron were 29 ± 3 mg/kg at day 8 and 14 ± 1 mg/kg at day 14, indicating relatively rapid clearance. However, residues of lufenuron were still present in the liver after 513 days of depuration. The exposure gave a transient inhibition of transcription in the liver at day 8 (2437 significant DEGs, p-adj < .05), followed by a weaker compensatory response at day 14 (169 significant DEGs). Pathways associated with RNA metabolism such as the sumoylation pathway were most strongly affected at day 8, while the apelin pathway was most profoundly affected at day 14. In conclusion, this study shows that lufenuron easily bioaccumulates and that a standard 7-day oral dose induces a transient inhibition of transcription in liver of salmon.publishedVersio

Sampling of Atlantic salmon using the Norwegian Quality cut (NQC) vs. Whole fillet; differences in contaminant and nutrient contents

Risk- benefit assessments of seafood require high-quality food composition data. In accordance with EU regulations, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has conventionally been sampled using the Norwegian Quality Cut (NQC), a sub-cut of the middle section of the fish, in Norwegian surveillance programs. By comparing the contents of nutrients and contaminants in 34 samples of farmed Atlantic salmon, we aimed to evaluate the representativeness of the NQC compared with the whole fillet. Of the 129 analytes evaluated, eight single analytes, in addition to 25 different fatty acids, showed significant differences between the cuts. Significant differences were evident for total fat, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and sum PCB-6, but not for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. We further suggest that the NQC may still be used in large-scale sampling of Atlantic salmon, and that the whole fillet would be preferable when analysing the content of nutrients.publishedVersio

Monitoring program for pharmaceuticals, illegal substances, and contaminants in farmed fish - Annual report for 2018

This report summarises the monitoring data collected in 2018 on the status of illegal substances, pharmaceuticals and contaminants in Norwegian farmed fish. A total of 13 920 fish were collected. Samples examined for illegal compounds could be collected at all stages of farming and are representative of farmed fish under production. The samples were analysed for substances with anabolic effects or unauthorized substances. No residues of illegal compounds were detected. Samples tested for approved veterinary drugs and contaminants were collected at processing plants, and are representative of Norwegian farmed fish ready for human consumption. Residues of anti sea lice agents were found in four samples, the levels present were below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for all samples. Other veterinary drugs, like antibiotics or drugs used against internal parasites were not found. No environmental contaminants were found above the EU maximum limits.publishedVersio

Identification of ethoxyquin and its transformation products in salmon after controlled dietary exposure via fish feed

Ethoxyquin (EQ) is an additive present in fish feed and its fate in fish should be carefully characterized due to food safety concerns regarding this compound. Therefore, the objective of this work was to identify the transformation products (TPs) of EQ in Atlantic salmon. Salmon in independent tanks were given feed containing ethoxyquin concentrations of 0.5 mg/kg, 119 mg/kg or 1173 mg/kg for 90 days. After the feeding trial, salmon fillets were extracted in acetonitrile and analyzed by liquid chromatography with traveling-wave ion mobility spectrometry coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TWIMS-QTOFMS). EQ was transferred from the feed to salmon fillets and 23 TPs were characterized, resulting from dimerization, oxygenation, cleavage, cleavage combined with oxygenation, cleavage combined with conjugation, and other uncategorized alterations. Moreover, EQ and some TPs were also detected in commercial salmon randomly sampled from different Norwegian fish farms. This study confirmed that the dimer 1,8′-EQDM was the main TP of EQ and, together with previous research, brought the overall number of characterized TPs to a total of 47.publishedVersio

Overvåkingsprogram for legemidler, ulovlige stoffer og forurensende stoffer i oppdrettsfisk

This report summarises the monitoring data collected in 2017 on the status of illegal substances, pharmaceuticals and contaminants in Norwegian farmed fish. A total of 13 640 fish were collected, of these almost 40% were analysed for illegal compounds, approximately 35% were analysed for veterinary drugs, and about 25% were examined for contaminants. Official inspectors from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority performed the sampling. Samples examined for illegal compounds could be collected at all stages of farming and are representative of farmed fish under production. The samples were analysed for substances with anabolic effects or unauthorized substances. No residues of illegal compounds were detected. Samples tested for approved veterinary drugs were collected at processing plants, and are representative of Norwegian farmed fish ready for human consumption. Residues of three anti sea lice agents; Emamectin, cypermethrin or diflubenzuron, were found in 16 samples. The levels present were below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for all samples. Other veterinary drugs, like antibiotics or drugs used against internal parasites, were not found. Samples analysed for contaminants were collected at processing plants, and are representative of Norwegian farmed fish ready for the human consumption. The samples were analysed for dioxins, dioxin like PCBs (dl-PCBs), indicator PCB (PCB-6), pesticides, metals, PAH, PFC or/and BFR. No environmental contaminants were found above the EU maximum limits. The declining trend that previously has been observed for several of the contaminants seems to have stopped and today’s level are similar to the results from the last years.publishedVersio

Distribution and Persistence of Diflubenzuron and Teflubenzuron in the Marine Environment Around Salmonid Aquaculture Facilities

To achieve a sustainable salmonid aquaculture industry, the environmental impacts of chemicals used to treat sea lice (Caligidae) infestations need to be considered. Our ability to assess the risks associated with these treatments in relation to human and wildlife health is limited by the lack of information on their concentrations in marine coastal environments. Diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron are chitin synthesis inhibiting insecticides frequently used to treat sea lice infestations on Norwegian salmon farms. In the present study, the distribution, persistence and bioaccumulation of both compounds were assessed in marine sediments and benthic macrofauna collected at four Norwegian aquacultures sites. Both compounds were detected in sediments sampled at 30–1400 m from the selected farms and 8–22 months after the last treatments took place. Diflubenzuron was detected above the limit of quantification (LOQ) in 76% of sediment samples and measured levels ranged between 2.4 and 257 μg/kg dry weight (dw). Teflubenzuron was detected above the LOQ in 92% of sediment samples, at concentrations ranging between 1.3 and 3474 μg/kg dw. In all samples where diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron were detected, the measured levels exceeded the Norwegian environmental quality standards (EQSsediment; 0.2 and 0.0004 μg/kg dw, respectively), indicating that these compounds may pose a risk to benthic marine species living near fish farms. Both compounds were detected in wild fauna collected near the selected aquaculture sites with measured residue levels in the low micro-gramme per kilogramme wet weight range. The residue levels detected in economically important species caught for human consumption, such as pink shrimp (Pandalus montagui) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus), were substantially lower than biota EQS’s and maximum residue limits (MRL) set by the EU for salmon tissue. Further studies are needed to fully understand the ecological impacts of these compounds in the marine environment, with the potential for lethal and sub-lethal effects to occur in non-target organisms following chronic exposures.publishedVersio