Arnarlax gets BRC seal of approval

Icelandic salmon company Arnarlax has been awarded the all-important British Retail Consortium (BRC) food safety certification for its processing operation in Bíldudalur in the Westfjords region.

BRC Food Safety certification gives the company, which trades internationally under the name Icelandic Salmon AS, a key to the potentially lucrative UK retail market.

The BRC scheme has been designed to implement best practice for food safety and quality. The standard looks at the measurement, review and assessment of any factors that influence food safety.

As the BRC Food Safety standard is recognised by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), the certification provides businesses with international recognition for food safety.

Many retailers, manufacturers, and food service companies will require a third-party food safety certification such as BRC Food Safety as part of their supplier approval process.

Arnarlax said: “We are proud of this supplement. This certification confirms that hygiene, quality and safety standards in the processing are at the highest international level.

“Behind a certification like this lies a lot of work and preparation and with a good team, the goal was achieved!”

Arnarlax was founded in 2009 by a group of people, mostly with roots and connections in Bíldudalur, who wanted to contribute to reversing the decline that the village has gone through for years.

Arnarlax, which is now largely owned by the Norwegian salmon giant SalMar, is planning a major expansion in output over the next few years, reflecting growing confidence in Iceland’s aquaculture sector.