EU Fish Labelling for Frozen Pangasius and Vannamei: What the Pack Must Show

A frozen pangasius or vannamei carton bound for an EU shelf must carry a fixed set of consumer information. Two regulations set it: Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 for fishery and aquaculture products, and Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 for food information in general. Most label problems at arrival are not legal puzzles. They come from a spec sheet that never asked the right question before production.

This guide lists each mandatory item, shows how it applies to farmed pangasius fillets and farmed vannamei, and names the spec sheet line that should feed it.

What Article 35 requires

Article 35(1) of Regulation 1379/2013 allows fishery and aquaculture products to be offered to final consumers or mass caterers only if the label shows five things:

• the commercial designation of the species and its scientific name;
• the production method, "caught" or "farmed";
• the area where the product was caught or farmed, and the fishing gear category for wild catch;
• whether the product has been defrosted;
• the date of minimum durability, where appropriate.

For prepacked food, Regulation 1169/2011 adds the general particulars, including net quantity and allergens. Two of its rules matter most for frozen seafood. Annex IX point 5 states: "Where the food has been glazed, the declared net weight of the food shall be exclusive of the glaze." Annex II lists "Fish and products thereof" and "Crustaceans and products thereof" among the allergens that must be emphasised.

Each label item, mapped to the spec sheet

Three points where cartons fail

1. The species name does not match the destination list

Each EU country draws up and publishes its own list of accepted commercial designations, according to the European Commission's consumer information FAQ. A carton printed for Spain may need different wording for Poland. Ask the buyer for the exact trade name before artwork is approved. Our basa, panga and pangasius guide explains why the name matters.

2. Net weight is declared on the wrong base

The law is clear: glaze does not count. The contract often is not. A clause that says "20% glaze" without saying whether it is measured on frozen weight or added on top of net weight can produce two different cartons. Our shrimp glazing guide shows how EU buyers write that clause.

3. The defrosted indication is missed in the retail chain

Retailers often thaw frozen fillets or shrimp for a chilled counter. The Commission FAQ says that for prepacked products the word "defrosted" must accompany the name of the food. For non-prepacked products it can appear on a board or poster. If the buyer plans thaw-and-display, the spec sheet should say so, so the label and the downstream information match.

What to agree before the first order

1. The trade name and scientific name for each destination country.
2. The glaze percentage and the base it is measured on.
3. The sale form: frozen, or thawed for display.
4. The date format and shelf life printed on the pack.
5. Who approves the final artwork, and in which language.

Label rules sit beside the health certificate and establishment listing, not in place of them. Our EU shipment readiness checklist covers those documents.

A note for UK buyers

The UK kept Regulation 1379/2013 in its retained form. The same five items apply. The UK version tasks the Secretary of State with publishing the list of commercial designations accepted in the United Kingdom, so check UK names against that list, not an EU one.

FAQ

Does farmed pangasius need a FAO fishing area on the label?

No. FAO areas and gear categories apply to wild catch. For farmed products, Article 38 asks for the country where the product reached more than half of its final weight. For Vietnamese pangasius that is Viet Nam.

Can the declared net weight include glaze?

No. Regulation 1169/2011, Annex IX point 5, requires the declared net weight of glazed food to exclude the glaze.

Do the Article 35 rules apply to food service packs?

Yes, for products supplied to mass caterers. The Commission FAQ notes one limit: for dishes served in a restaurant, only allergen information is mandatory.

Need the spec fields for your own label check? Request the TBESFOOD Spec Pack for pangasius and vannamei.

Sources

• Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, Chapter IV, consumer information
• European Commission, consumer information: frequently asked questions
• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex IX point 5, glazed food