Commitment to Quality

Shetland Seafood Quality Control Ltd

Shetland's seafood industry thrives on a clear commitment to quality, and it guards this approach jealously and rigorously.

To regulate this commitment, Shetland Seafood Quality Control (SSQC), an independent company established in 1985, continually measures, monitors, and enforces strict standards which are recognised as exceeding the benchmark for the industry internationally.

In its work, SSQC carries out regular random visits throughout the Shetland seafood industry and collects samples for full laboratory analysis to maintain quality standards.

With almost 20 years' experience, SSQC now has some of the most advanced equipment available to conduct stringent quality control testing, and is involved with all sectors of the seafood industry in Shetland to offer:

full traceability for all Shetland salmon products, from hatchery, to farm, to processor, to customer under its 'Superior Quality Shetland Salmon' scheme which is now accredited to EN45011 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)
continual monitoring of the catches at Shetland's modern, chilled fish markets to ensure rigorous temperature control and good handling practices
regular monitoring of processors and packing stations to ensure that proper handling, hygiene, cleaning, temperature control, and packing procedures are maintained.

ISO Quality Standards

Some members are also accredited to both the ISO 9002 and ISO 14001 quality standards. ISO 9002 relates to quality management and examines a company's operational processes for delivering a high quality product or service. ISO 14001, on the other hand, is concerned with environmental management and the procedures in place to minimise any harm to the environment.