820 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
5.12.70 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoL264/1
REGULATION (EEC)No2455/70OFTHECOUNCIL
of30November1970
determiningcommonmarketingstandardsforcertainfreshorchilledfish
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingthe
EuropeanEconomicCommunity ;
HavingregardtoCouncilRegulation (EEC)No
2142/701of20October1970onthecommon
organisationofthemarketinfisheryproducts,andin
particularArticle2(3)thereof;
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission ;
WhereasRegulationNo2142/70/EECprovidesfor
thepossibilityofdeterminingcommonmarketing
standards;whereastheapplicationofsuchstandards
shouldhelptoimprovethequalityoffishmarketed
andthusfacilitatetheirsale;
"Whereas,onewayofimprovingqualityistoprevent
fishwhichisnotofagivendegreeoffreshnessbeing
marketedforhumanconsumption ;
Whereas,inalmostallMemberStatesengagedinsea
fishing,fishwhichhavebeenjudgedfitforhuman
consumption .undernationalregulationsareoffered
forsaleaftergradingforsize,weight,presentation
andothercriteria;whereasfisharealsograded
accordingtodegreeoffreshness;
Whereasthe.adoptionofstandardsforcertain
productshasassumedparticularimportanceinview
ofthemeasuresonthedetermination andformation
ofpricesprovidedforinRegulation (EEC)No
2142/70;whereasthegradinghithertocarriedoutat
nationallevelshouldthereforebestandardised ;
Whereasfishhavehithertobeengradedonlybefore
beingsoldforthefirsttimesincealargeproportion
ofthesefishareimmediatelyfilletedorotherwise
processed;whereasapplicationofcommonstandards
shouldthereforebelimitedtothefirstmarketing
stageintheCommunity ;Whereasthestandardsmustapplytoallfish,
includingimportedfish,marketedontheterritoryof
theMemberStatesoftheCommunity ;whereasit
seemsnecessary,however,toexcludecertaindirect
salesofsmallquantitiestoretailersorconsumers
fromtheirfieldofapplication ;whereasgrading
shouldalsobedispensedwithforfishwhichare
provednottobeintendedforhumanconsumption ;
WhereasthetenspeciescoveredbythisRegulation
representabout60%ofCommunityproductionof
freshfishand80%ofimportsfromthirdcountries;
whereaspriorityshouldthereforebegiventothe
adoptionofstandardsforthesespecies;
Whereasfreshnessisadecisivefactorinassessingthe
qualityoffish;whereasgradingbysizeisalso
essentialbecauseofthediversityofconsumers'
buyinghabitsandtheprocessingmethodsnormally
usedintheCommunity ;
Whereasthevaryingdegreesoffreshnessand
differencesinsizemustbeadequatelyindicated;
whereasit.isadvisablethereforetoprovidealimited,
yetsufficientnumberoffreshnessandsizecategories;
Whereasthereisatpresentnoobjectivemethodof
assessingthefreshnessoffishbothrapidlyand
cheaply;whereasonlyorganolepticexamination ,
whichis,moreover,inuseinMemberStates,meets
thisrequirementandconstitutesanacceptable
method;
Whereas,inviewofnormalpracticeinmostMember
States,itisadvisablethattheindustryshouldgrade
fishforfreshnessandsize;whereas,withaviewin
particulartoassessingfreshnessbyorganoleptic
criteria,provisionshouldbemadeforthe
collaboration ofexpertsappointedforthispurpose
bythetradeorganisationsconcerned;
Whereas,inordertokeepeachotherinformed,each
Member .StateshouldsupplytheotherMember
StatesandtheCommission withalistofthenames
andaddressesoftheexpertsandtradeorganisations
concerned;1OJNoL236,27.10.1970,p.5.

OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 821
headingNoex03.01BIoftheCommonCustoms
Tariffwiththeexceptionoffishwhichislive,frozen
orinpieces.Whereasitisessentialthatfishimportedfromthird
countriesshouldconformtoCommunitystandards;
WhereastheapplicationofCommunitystandardsto
thesefishmeansthatadditionalinformationmustbe
givenonpackages;whereas,however,this
informationisnotnecessaryinthecaseoffishlanded
intheCommunityfromvesselsunderthesame
conditionsasCommunitycatches;Cod (Gadusmorrhua)
Coalfish (Pollachiusvirens)
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
Whiting (Merlangiusmerlangus)
Plaice (Pleuronectesplatessa)
Redfish (Sebastesmarinus)
Mackerel (Scomberscombrus)
Herring (Clupeaharengus)
Sardines (ClupeapilchardusWalbaum)
Anchovies (Engraulisencrasicholus ).HASADOPTEDTHISREGULATION :
Article1
ForthepurposesofthisRegulation :
(a)'marketing'meansthefirstofferingforsaleand
thefirstsaleafterarrivalintheCommunity ;
(b).'lot'meansaquantityoffishofthesame,species,
whichhasbeensubjectedtothesametreatment
andwhichmayhavecomefromthesamefishing
groundandthesameboat;
,(c)'fishingground'meansthedescriptionusually
givenbythefishingindustrytotheplacein
whichthecatcheshavebeenmade;
(d)'presentation 'meanstheforminwhichthefishis
marketed,suchaswhole,gutted,headless,etc.Article4
ThemarketingstandardsreferredtoinArticle3shall
comprise:
(a)freshnesscategoriesand
Article2(b)sizecategories.
Article5
Thefreshnesscategoryofeachlotshallbedetermined
onthebasisofthefreshnessratingofthefishanda
numberofadditionalrequirements .
Thefreshnessratingshallbedefinedwiththehelpof
thescalesetoutinAnnexAtothisRegulation,1.ThefishreferredtoinArticle3whichformpart
ofCommunitycatchesmaybemarketedwithinthe
Communityonlyiftheycomplywiththeprovisions
ofthisRegulation .
2.ThefishreferredtoinArticle3whichare
gradedinFreshnessCategoryCreferredtoinArticle
6maynotbemarketedforhumanconsumption .
3.TheprovisionsofthisRegulationshallnot,
however,applyto:
(a)smallquantitiesoffishdisposedofbyinshore
fishermendirecttoretailersorconsumers;
(b)fishwhichtherightfulownercanprovenottobe
forhumanconsumption .
4.Detailedrulesfortheapplicationofparagraphs
2and3shallbeadoptedinaccordancewiththe
procedurelaiddowninArticle29ofRegulation
(EEC)No2142/70.whichcoversthefollowingaspects:
(a)appearance
(b)condition
(c)smell
Eachpartexaminedshallbeawardedmarks
corresponding tothefreshnesscriteriaindicatedin
thescale.Thearithmeticmeanofthemarksawarded
shallindicatethefreshnessrating.
Article6
Article3
Marketingstandardsareherebylaiddownforthe
followingspeciesofsaltwaterfishfallingwithin1.OnthebasisoftheprovisionsofArticle5,fish
shallbeclassifiedbylotinFreshnessCategory
'Extra',A,BorC.

822­ OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
2.Lotsshallbeplacedinsizecategoriesinaccord­
ancewiththescalesetoutinAnnexBtothis
Regulation .
3.Eachlotmustcontainfishofthesamesize.A
smalllotneediiot,however,beofuniformsize;ifit
isnot,thelotmustbeplacedinthelowestsize
categoryrepresentedtherein.
4.Thesizecategoryandpresentationmustbe
clearlyandindeliblymarkedincharacterswhichare
atleast5cmhighonlabelsaffixedtothelots.
Article9FreshnessCategory'Extra'
Thefreshnessratihgofthefishinthiscategoryshall
be2.7andover.Thefishmustbefreefrompressure
marks,injuries,blemishesandbaddiscoloration .
FreshnessCategoryA
Thefreshnessratingoffishinthiscategoryshallbe2
andoverbutlessthan2.7.Averysmallproportion
offishwithslightpressuremarksandsuperficial
injuriesshallbetolerated.Thefishmustbefreefrom
blemishesandbaddiscoloration .
FreshnessCategoryB
Thefreshnessratingoffishinthiscategoryshallbe1
andoverbutlessthan2.Averysmallproportionof
fishwithmoreseriouspressuremarksandslight
injuriesshallbetolerated.Thefishmustbefreefrom
blemishesandbaddiscoloration .
FreshnessCategoryC
Fishnotsatisfyingtherequirementsoffreshnesscate­
gories'Extra',AandBshallbeplacedinthiscate­
gory.
2.Whentheproductsarebeingclassifiedbyfresh­
nesscategorythepresenceofparasitesshallalsobe
takenintoconsideration ,allowancebeingmadefor
thetypeofproduct,thefishinggroundinwhichit
wascaughtanditspresentation .
Detailedrulesfortheapplicationofthisparagraph
shallbeadoptedinaccordancewiththeprocedure
laiddowninArticle29ofRegulationNo2141/70.
Adecisiontomakeanindicationofthefishingground
compulsoryforeachlotmaybetakeninaccordance
withthesameprocedure.Theindustryshallgradefishforfreshnessandsize
incollaborationwithexpertsappointedforthatpur­
posebythetradeorganisationsconcerned.
Article10
NotlaterthanonemonthbeforethisRegulationbe­
ginstoapply,eachMemberStateshallsupplythe
otherMemberStatesandtheCommission withalist
ofthenamesandaddressesoftheexpertsandtrade
organisationsreferredtoinArticle9.Theother
MemberStatesandtheCommission shallbein­
formedofanyamendmentstothislist.
Article11
Article71.ThefishreferredtoinArticle3importedfrom
thirdcountriesmaybeputonthemarketinthe
Communityonlyif:
(a)theycomplywiththeprovisionsofArticles4,5,
6,7and8;
(b)theyarepresentedinpackagesonwhichthe
followinginformation isclearlyandlegibly
marked:
—countryoforigin,printedinRomanletters
whichareatleast20mmhigh;1.Eachlotmustcontainproductsofthesame
degreeoffreshness.Asmalllotneednot,however,
beofuniformfreshness;ifitisnot,thelotshallbe
placedinthelowestfreshnesscategoryrepresented
therein.
2.Thefreshnesscategorymustbeclearlyandin­
deliblymarkedincharacterswhichareatleast5cm
highonlabelsaffixedtothelots.
—speciesoffish;
—presentation ; Article8
1.Fishshallbesizedbyweightorbynumberper
kilogramme .—freshnessandsizecategories;
—netweightinkgofthefishinthepackage;

OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 823
—dateofgradinganddateofdispatch; Article12
—nameandaddressofsender.
ThisRegulationshallenterintoforceonthethird
dayfollowingitspublicationintheOfficialJournal
oftheEuropeanCommunities .
ThesystemprovidedforinthisRegulationshall
applyfrom1February1971.2.However,fishlandedinaCommunityport
directfromthefishinggroundsfromvesselsflying
theflagofathirdcountryshallbesubject,whenput
onthemarket,tothesameprovisionsasthoseap­
plicabletoCommunitycatches.
ThisRegulationshallbebindinginitsentiretyanddirectlyapplicableinallMember
States.
DoneatBrussels,30November1970.
FortheCouncil
ThePresident
H.D.GRIESAU

824 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
ANNEXA
FRESHNESS RATINGS
PARTSOF
THEFISH
INSPECTEDCRITERIA
3Marks
2 j10
APPEARANCE
SKIN Bright,iridescent
pigmentation ;no
discoloration ;
aqueous,
transparent
mucusPigmentation
brightbut
notlustrous;
slightlycloudy
mucusPigmentation in
theprocessof
becoming
discoloredand
dull;milky
mucusDull1
pigmentation ;
opaquemucus
EYE Convex
(bulging);
transparent
cornea;black,
brightpupilConvexand
slightlysunken;
slightlyopales­
centcornea;
black,dull
pupilFlat;opalescent
cornea;
opaquepupilConcavein1
thecentre;
milkycornea;
greypupil
GILLS Brightcolour,
nomucusLesscoloured;
slighttraces
ofclearmucusBecoming
discoloured ;
opaquemucusYellowish 1;
milkymucus
FLESH
(cutfrom
abdomen)Bluish,
translucent ,
smooth,shining;
nochangein
originalcolour;Velvety,waxy,
dull;colour
slightlychangedSlightlyopaqueOpaque1
COLOUR
ALONGTHE
VERTEBRAL
COLUMNUncoloured SlightlypinkPink Red1
ORGANS Kidneysand
residuesofother
organsshouldbe
brightred,as
shouldtheblood
insidetheaorta;Kidneysand
residuesofother
organsshouldbe
dullred;blood
becoming
discolouredKidneys,residues
ofotherorgans
andbloodshould
bepaleredKidneys1,residues
,ofotherorgans
andbloodshould
bebrownishin
colour
CONDITION
FLESH Firmandelastic;
smoothsurfaceLesselastic Slightlysoft
(flaccid),less
elastic;waxy
(velvety)anddull
surfaceSoft(flaccid)1;
scaleseasily
detachedfrom
skin,surfacera­
therwrinkled,in­
cliningtomealy
VERTEBRAL
COLUMNBreaksinsteadof
comingawaySticks Sticksslightly Doesnotstick1
PERITONEUM Stickscompletely
tofleshSticks Sticksslightly Doesnotstick1
SMELL
GILLS,
SKIN,
ABDOMINAL
CAVITYSeaweed Nosmellof
seaweedorany
badsmellSlightlysoursour1
.lOrinamoreadvancedstateofdecay.

OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 825
ANNEXB
SIZING
kg/fish
Cod Coalfish Haddock Whiting
Size17andover 5andover 1andover Ό-5andover
Size2from4uptobut
excluding7from3uptobut
excluding5from0-4uptobut
excluding1from0-35uptobut
excluding0-5
Size3from2uptobut
excluding4from1-5uptobut
excluding3from0-25uptobut
excluding0·4from0-2uptobut
excluding0-35
Size4from1uptobut
excluding2lessthan1-5 lessthan0-25 lessthan0-2
Size5lessthan1
kg/fish
Plaice Redfish Mackerel
Size10-6andover 2andover 0-5andover
Size2from0-4uptobut
excluding0-6lessthan2 from0-2uptobut
excluding0-5
Size3from0-3uptobut
excluding0-4from0-1uptobut
excluding0-2
Size4lessthan0-3 lessthan0-1
Herring Sardines
kg/fishNumberoffish
tokgkg/fishNumberoffish
tokg
Size10-125andover 8orless 0-060andover 17orless
Size2from0-085uptobut
excluding0-125from9to12from0-040uptobut
excluding0-060from18to25
Size3lessthan0-085 13andoverfrom0Ό30uptobut
excluding0-040from26to33
Size4 lessthan0-030 34andover
Anchovies
kg/fish Numberoffishtokg
Size10-040andover 25orless
Size2from0-020uptobutexcluding0-040from26to50
Size3lessthan0-020 51andover