– They can afford to take these battles, and they do, says Jakobsen about the big salmon producers. He says the Norwegian Food Safety Authority spends valuable time dealing with expensive salmon lawyers, time that could otherwise be spent on inspections. Bjørnar Werner Jakobsen is the chief shop steward for the Academics in the Food Safety Authority Photo: The Norwegian Veterinary Association Jakobsen says the Food Safety Authority is experiencing great pressure from the farming industry. – First they complain. If they do not succeed, they take the case to the court system. They can go on indefinitely. Complete victory news has just told the story of how the Norwegian Food Safety Authority reversed a case against the large farming companies. Three lawyers from Haavind were hired to reverse a decision that had already been processed. The salmon industry did not want an order to notify when listeria is found in the salmon slaughterhouses. The appeal ended with a complete victory for companies such as MOWI, Lerøy, SalMar and SinkabergHansen. It also led to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority having to pay the legal fees of the salmon giants. The bill was almost NOK 400,000. Haavind does not wish to comment on the matter. Lawyer Ida Espolin Johnson in Haavind has been hired by the salmon giants several times. Photo: Advokatfirmaet Haavind – This is a closed case, where the complaint was successful and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s decision was overturned. Beyond that, we have no comment, says partner in Haavind, Ida Espolin Johnson. Very carefully, Bjørnar Werner Jakobsen describes an everyday life where time is spent refining each and every formulation. – The inbox is full. There is intense work involved here, and that means you have to be very careful. You have to make sure that the legal aspects are one hundred percent in place. And it takes time. It may take a day’s work, a week’s work, more on each individual case to ensure that it is unassailable both legally and professionally. – What is at the expense of? – It means that we spend time that we could otherwise have spent on other things. For example, to carry out more supervision, as we ourselves want, as consumers want and as is our social mission. Not good for anyone Environment Director Henrik Stenwig at Seafood Norway Photo: Bjørn Olav Nordahl / news Environment Director Henrik Stenwig at Seafood Norway represents the farmers. He believes that it is not his members who are the problem. – Production of food along the entire value chain is complex. And a very complex set of regulations has been created around this. From time to time it happens that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority makes decisions on a poor basis because the regulations are not well enough known, says Stenwig. He believes it is the breeders’ right to challenge the decisions. – To highlight how complex it can be, the companies use lawyers to be informed about what is in the regulations and where the limit is. – Is it good for the industry? – No, it’s not good for anyone. – What does this mean for the reputation of the farming industry? – After all, reputation can be challenging both for those who make the wrong decision and for those who are affected by the wrong decision. When does the sword fall? Chief shop steward Bjørnar Werner Jakobsen describes his colleagues as skilled professionals who are used to standing in the storm. – They have been out on a winter night before. They are really my heroes, and they should also be both the fish’s and the consumers’ heroes. He nevertheless points out that there may be too much pressure from the money-rich farming industry and the lawyers there. A pressure that is there all the time in daily work. – I get a lot of feedback from employees that it is tough to stand under such pressure. You work all the time with a kind of sword hanging over your head. And you never know when it will fall, says Jakobsen. Hello! We are currently working a lot on matters concerning the farming industry. Do you have tips for us, or know something about the industry that you think we should know or check out? Feel free to send us an email! Alternatively, you can call us on 95.22.30.63. You can use the same number on the encrypted Signal app.
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The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is pressured by the salmon lawyers – news Dokumentar
