Mattilsynet is responsible for oversight of fish health and biosafety in Norway's aquaculture sector.
Photo: Mattilsynet
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) will carry out system audits of 12 aquaculture companies this year, widening its focus to include hatchery operators as part of a push to strengthen fish welfare from the start of the production cycle.
The audits are intended to test whether companies’ management systems, routines and internal controls comply with regulations governing animal welfare and fish health. In addition to reviewing documentation at company level, inspectors will visit a sample of sites, typically 10-15% of a firm’s locations, to check whether written procedures are reflected in day-to-day operations.
“The purpose is to check maps and terrain, whether the company's overall plans and systems are translated into uniform practices in the facilities,” said Irja Viste-Ollestad, who heads innovation, methods and analysis in the authority’s aquaculture inspection division.
According to the regulator, experience from 20 audits carried out in 2024 and 2025 revealed wide differences in how companies interpret and apply the rules. While the authority did not publish detailed findings, it said most businesses reported benefits from the process.
“Nine out of ten audited businesses say the audit has made them more aware of risk management and internal control. Several have also made concrete improvements to their management systems afterwards,” Viste-Ollestad said.
The companies selected for review were chosen based on their size, previous inspection history, professional assessments by the authority, and factors such as incidents and recorded mortality.
For the first time, several hatchery operators are included. The authority argues that early-stage conditions can have lasting consequences for fish health.
“Good animal welfare starts already in the hatchery. Good rearing conditions produce robust fish that can withstand the transition to the sea better. Prioritizing welfare from the start strengthens both fish health and the sustainability of the entire production,” Viste-Ollestad explained.
Those scheduled for audits include major salmon producers such as Mowi, SalMar and Lerøy, as well as cod producer Norcod. Hatchery and smolt operators on the list include Helgeland Smolt and Trøndersmolt, alongside other regional firms such as Ellingsen Seafood, Havlandet, Salak and Steinvik. The authority said companies are informed well in advance of inspections.
The latest round of audits follows Mattilsynet's recent report on the results of last year's reviews, which found that although parts of Norway’s aquaculture sector have improved their internal management systems in recent years, weaknesses in how fish welfare requirements are applied remain widespread.
Mattilsynet also recently announced it is preparing a new set of animal welfare rules for the aquaculture sector, with entry into force planned for January 2027.
The proposed regulation will apply across the aquaculture value chain, covering farming facilities, transport operations, processing and related activities. The authority says the aim is to strengthen animal welfare by bringing together provisions that are currently spread across several different regulations and revising them in light of updated scientific knowledge.
