1

When chemical checks are to be carried out by the district council samples must be taken and subjected to laboratory analysis for the control of the following parameters—

a

TVB-N (Total Volatile Basic-Nitrogen), in respect of which—

i

the following TVB-N limits must not be exceeded—

• — 25 milligrams of nitrogen per 100 grams of flesh for the following species:

• Sebastes spp.;

• Helicolenus dactylopterus;

• Sebastichthys capensis;

• — 30 milligrams of nitrogen per 100 grams of flesh for the following species:

• all species belonging to the Pleuronectidae family (with the exception of halibut: Hippoglossus spp.);

• — 35 milligrams of nitrogen per 100 grams of flesh for the following species:

• Salmo salar;

• species belonging to the Merlucciidae family;

• species belonging to the Gadidae family;

ii

the reference method to be used for checking the TVB-N limit is the method involving distillation of an extract deproteinized by perchloric acid as set out in Annexes II and III of Commission Decision 95/149/EC of 8th March 19959 (“the Decision”) read together with Article 3 of the Decision;

iii

the routine methods which may be used to check the TVB-N limit are those specified in Article 2(3) of the Decision;

iv

the sample must consist of about 100 grams of flesh, taken from at least 3 different points and mixed together by grinding;

b

TMA-N (Trimethylamine-Nitrogen);

c

Histamine, in respect of which—

i

nine samples must be taken from each batch; these must fulfil the following requirements—

• the mean value must not exceed 100 parts per million (“ppm”);

• two samples may have a value of more than 100 ppm but less than 200 ppm;

• no sample may have a value exceeding 200 ppm;

ii

these limits apply only to fish species of the following families: Scombridae and Clupeidae; however, fish belonging to these families which have undergone enzyme ripening treatment in brine may have higher histamine levels but not more than twice the above values; examinations must be carried out in accordance with reliable, scientifically recognised methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).