Seafood labelling compliance with European legislation and species identification by DNA barcoding: A first survey on the Bulgarian market

Abstract

The present study aimed at assessing the labelling compliance of seafood products sold on the Bulgarian market in the light of the European legislation and at verifying their identity by DNA barcoding. A preliminary analysis of the official Bulgarian seafood denomination list was conducted. The labels of 97 seafood products collected from Bulgarian wholesalers were analysed to verify their compliance with the requirements of the Regulation (EU) n. 1379/2013. Then, the products were molecularly identified by DNA barcoding and the species substitution rate was calculated. The analysis of the official seafood denomination list highlighted the lack of national and international relevant market species. Moreover, 19.3% of the listed items were found referring to invalid scientific names. The main shortcomings found with the labels analysis were: the presence of commercial and scientific names not included within the official list (59.2%), the lack of the scientific name (34.1%), the incomplete reference to the catching area (85.2%) and the absence of the fishing gear (55.2%). The DNA barcoding revealed a species substitution rate of 17.7%. The outcomes of this study underline the urgency to review and update the Bulgarian official seafood list. Even though the relatively low species substitution rate found in this study supports the reduction of unfair practices in the EU seafood chain, official controls aimed at verifying seafood labelling along the Bulgarian supply chain are still needed.