Quality requirements for fish block producers are getting higher and they have not seen the end yet, according to Denmark-based Peterson Beck A/S.
They say nearly all factories in the fishing sector have been working towards getting certification for ISO9001 and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).
The importance of this certification for producers, processors, dealers and buyers also means it is essential that food products are in certified packaging materials.
Peterson Beck say of their Beck-liner®: "We implemented the ISO 9001 during 1994 and have worked under DS 3027 HACCP since 1998. We see demands from all our customers, who require documentation in their files on the packaging.
Our customers really appreciate the fact that they can get a certificate as proof [of] validity, stable quality and hygiene guarantee on the block liners. It is definitely not enough to have certified raw materials but also the manufacturing process of the finished liner needs to be clarified to be valid.
This means that fish block producers needs to be aware of the difference between certified and non-certified block liners."
They also say the liner offers traceability for the finished fish blocks to meet the new EU regulations which will be in place by 2005.
