Better seafood labelling, better choices: The European Parliament calls for nutritional labelling

When people buy fish, they expect more than a fillet. They expect a source of omega-3. Yet in the supermarket, few consumers can tell how much omega-3 is actually in the fish they put in their basket.

That is why we welcome the European Parliament’s adoption of the resolution on the role of social, economic and environmental standards in safeguarding fair competition for all aquatic food products and improving food security. It was adopted with 476 votes in favour, 92 against and 44 abstentions.

The resolution emphasises that beside mandatory information, labels should include, when possible:

• Nutritional information, including omega-3 content
• A clear distinction between wild-caught and farmed seafood
• A clear distinction between seafood and plant-based products

Parliament also wants to prohibit marketing that claims a product contains aquatic species when it holds no trace of them.

Together, these proposals should make labels more honest and more useful. They also help level the playing field between EU producers and imports that are not held to the same standards.

Why this matters to us

We believe that it is essential to include omega-3 content on labels, so that consumers can be informed about the quality of the fish they buy, particularly farmed fish.

Omega-3 content directly reflects the fish’s diet, and therefore the inclusion of marine ingredients in its feed. It is a concrete, measurable indicator of quality, and today it is invisible to the consumer.

Clear omega-3 labelling would:

• Enable an informed choice. Consumers who buy fish for its health benefits can see what they actually are getting.
• Build trust through transparency. The label says what the product is and what it contains.
• Reward quality. When omega-3 content is visible, producers have a reason to compete on it.

Consumers rarely ask about omega-3 on the label, because most do not know they should. They simply expect the fish they buy to contain lots of omega-3. Labelling should make this apparent and be a help to consumers.

What happens next

While this is a step in the right direction, the resolution is only a political signal, not legislation. The next step is the Commission and the Member States, who will consider these calls in the review of the CMO rules.

As the voice of Europe’s marine ingredients sector, we stand ready to contribute with facts and expertise.

To read the full press release follow this link.