The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) recently updated a Fishery Information Notice (FIN) on weighing systems. The FIN covers the requirements that a general (demersal) weighing system must meet for SFPA approval to weigh fisheries products on landing. This FIN also details the terminology used for weighing systems, as well as the roles of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Legal Metrology, the SFPA and verifiers during approval.
All weighing systems used for the purpose of weighing fisheries products in the jurisdiction of the Irish State are required to be approved by the Competent Authorities (the SFPA and NSAI Legal Metrology) to ensure the weighing systems meet legislative requirements.
Operators must apply to the SFPA for approval of any weighing systems that they intend to use for the weighing of fisheries products on landing. The Weighing System Approval Application form should be completed and returned to applications@sfpa.ie along with an in-date calibration certificate for each system. All weighing systems used for weighing fisheries products on landing are required to meet the minimum requirements detailed in the FIN.
Operators of vessels and food business operators buying first sale fisheries products should familiarise themselves with the FIN.
The SFPA is committed to supporting compliance with both new and existing legislation and are available to provide guidance. For assistance or further details on the FIN, please contact: sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie
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Note to Editor
The FIN can be accessed on the SFPA website FIN is titled ‘General Requirements for Systems used to Weigh Fishery Products’ and can be accessed on the SFPA website under ‘Fishery Information Notices’ and then ‘Weighing of Fishery Products’, or by following this link: FFSU-FC-FIN-OC-17-24 General Requirements for Systems used to Weigh Fishery Products V2
The Weighing System Approval Application form can be accessed here:
https://www.sfpa.ie/Search/resource/2746
Further Information
About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie