Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
The substances are found in low levels in our food, including in fish and fishery products. Because of potential health concerns, some countries have introduced maximum limits of the substances in foods.
Maximum permitted levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fish and fishery products apply in Northern Ireland. They are listed below.
|
Row |
Seafood |
Maximum level, μg/kg wet weight |
||||
|
|
|
PFOS |
PFOA |
PFNA |
PFHxS |
Sum of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS |
|
1 |
Muscle meat for fish, except products listed in rows 2 and 3 Muscle meat of fish listed in Rows 2 and 3 where that fish is intended for the production of food for infants and young children |
2.0 |
0.20 |
0.50 |
0.20 |
2.0 |
|
2 |
Muscle meat of the following fish, unless intended for the production of food for infants and young children. Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras) Bonito (Sarda and Orcynopsis species) Burbot (Lota lota) European sprat (Sprattus sprattus) Flounder (Platichthys flesus and Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) Grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) Pike (Esox species) Plaice (Pleuronectes and Lepidopsetta species) Sardine and pilchard (Sardina species) Seabass (Dicentrarchus species) Sea catfish (Silurus and Pangasius species) Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Tench (Tinca tinca) Vendace (Coregonus albula and Coregonus vandesius) Silverly lightfish (Phosichthys argenteus) Wild salmon and wild trout (wild Salmo and Oncorhynchus species) Wolf fish (Anarhichas species) |
7.0 |
1.0 |
2.5 |
0.20 |
8.0 |
|
3 |
Muscle meat of the following fish, unless intended for the production of food for infants and young children: Anchovy (Engraulis species) Babel (Barbus barbus) Bream (Abramis species) Char (Salvelinus species) Eel (Anguilla species) Pike-perch (Sander species) Perch (Perca fluviatilis) Roach (Rutilus rutilus) Smelt (Osmerus species) Whitefish (Coregonus species other than those listed in Row 2) |
35 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
1.5 |
45 |
|
4 |
Crustaceans and bivalve molluscs For crustaceans, the maximum level applies to muscle meat from appendages and abdomen i.e the cephalothorax of crustaceans is excluded. In case of crabs and crab-like crustaceans (Brachyura and Anomura), the maximum level applies to the muscle meat from appendages. In case of Pecten maximus, the maximum level applies to the adductor muscle and gonad only. For canned crustaceans, the maximum level applies to the whole content of the can. |
3.0 |
0.70 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
5.0 |
Notes:
PFOS: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
PFOA: perfluorooctanoic acid
PFNA: perfluorononanoic acid
PFHxS: perfluorohexane sulfonic acid
For PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and their sum, the maximum level refers to the sum of linear and branched stereoisomers, whether they are chromatographically separated or not. When calculating the sum of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS, add together lower bound concentrations, counting all the values below the limit of quantification as zero.
Where fish are intended to be eaten whole, the maximum levels apply to the whole fish (not to the muscle meat).
The relevant regulation is Regulation (EU) 2023/915.