CO2 is on the way out as an anesthetic for fish in Norwegian slaughter plants. Stunning and electronic stunning have emerged as the two hottest alternatives. Research is also being carried out on other methods, according to a letter sent by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) to the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs.
The use of CO2 as an anesthetic is facing a ban after the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) concluded that it was “associated with a high risk for poor fish welfare.”
VKM
