Permit to Sell Dioxin-Laden Baltic Fish

According to a report in the daily Helsingin Sanomat, the waiver is in force until the end of 2011 and it covers a number of species, including salmon and herring and fish roe.

The exception has also been given to Sweden. Both countries are being allowed to permit sales of fish with dioxin levels exceeding norms only on domestic markets.

A condition for the sales is that consumers must be given clear information about how much dioxin-laden fish can be safely eaten. Finland issued its own recommendations two years ago. According to the official guidelines, a healthy adult can eat fish from the Baltic about twice a week without undue risk.

In addition, both countries will have to make annual reports to the European Commission on the results of the monitoring of PCB levels in Baltic fish.

In 2004 Finnish fishermen took around 92 000 tons of fish in the Baltic.

YLE24