Scottish farmed salmon is no more premium than cheaper Norwegian salmon, a court has ruled.
Scottish salmon and Norwegian salmon are effectively the same product, found documents for a case brought before the Competition Appeal Tribunal by major UK supermarkets.
The case against major salmon companies – Bremnes, Cermaq, Grieg Seafood, Leroy Seafood, SalMar, Mowi and Scottish Sea Farms – revolves around concerns of cartel behaviour over the alleged manipulation of the price of farmed Atlantic salmon.
Suppliers had created an unfair distinction between salmon farmed in Norway (NFAS) and salmon farmed in Scotland (SFAS) – with the latter commanding a price premium of 10% – the claimants told the court last week .
However, “it does not automatically follow the product is different”, the tribunal ruled.
“We have no hesitation in holding it is arguable NFAS and SFAS are the same product,” the tribunal added.
It highlights the species – Salmo salar – is the same and that being raised in different stocking densities or receiving different diets does not mean they are “necessarily materially different”.
Read more: What are the ‘cartel’ claims against salmon producers?
“It is not suggested that when looked at on the plate they would be understood to be different products either by someone in the trade or by a typical consumer,” the court added.
The 5 March hearing also concluded the cartel case should proceed in the UK, despite suppliers arguing it should be thrown out of UK courts as they are all foreign-owned.
Scottish salmon is the UK’s largest food export, sold to more than 50 countries and worth £600m per year.
The retailers, which include Asda, Iceland, M&S, Ocado, Morrisons, Aldi and Co-op, are seeking £675m in damages for the inflated costs passed on to shoppers.
This latest development has been welcomed by Green Britain Foundation, which said the ruling exposed “greed-driven practices” of the salmon sector and called for “real scrutiny and action against this destructive industry”.
“The ruling is a game-changer,” said Dale Vince, founder of the Green Britain Foundation. “It aligns with the foundation’s ongoing fight against the damaging practices of industrial salmon farming – a sector that pollutes our waters, spreads disease, and devastates marine life, all while misleading the public.”
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