With the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's aquaculture audits focussing on the country's largest producers, the organisation hopes to foster the large-scale improvement of animal health through increased attention to risk management. The inspections are risk-based, with companies selected based on size, qualitative assessments and performance during previous audits and inspections, in addition to incidents and registered mortality.
"We believe that improvement at the system level means improvement for as many animals as possible," said Bård Skjelstad, director of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, in a press release.
This year, inspections will focus on animal welfare during lice treatment, biosafety, and the welfare of cleaner fish. So far, the companies selected for auditing during 2025 are: Lingalax, Hofseth Seafarming, Alsaker Fjord Farm, Nova Sea, Sinkaberg Aquaculture, Cermaq, The Froy Group, Kvarøy Fish Farming, Firda Sjøfarmer, Erko Seafood, Måsøval, and Mowi Seawater Norway.
As part of the audits, the companies' management systems and tools will also be inspected at up to 15 percent of the company's locations, ensuring that the company's overall plans and systems are translated into uniform practices.
"We want to be clear and predictable, so that those who are going to be audited have the opportunity to initiate improvement work before we start the audit process. An important goal in this work is to contribute to shared learning in the industry, which is precisely why we publish all audit reports continuously," concluded Skjelstad.