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FOI release

FOI2026/00576 - Recorded information on Spanish sea bass antibiotic residues

Published 10 June 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vmd-foieir-requests-march-2026/foi202600576-recorded-information-on-spanish-sea-bass-antibiotic-residues

1. Your request

Under FOIA 2000 s.1(1)/EIR 2004 reg.12, RECORDED INFORMATION on Spanish sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) imports 2018-2026:

  1. Antibiotic residue detections: Florfenicol, oxytetracycline, amoxycillin levels exceeding MRLs (Reg (EU) 37/2010) 2. Non-compliant retailers: Tesco/Sainsbury’s/Waitrose/M&S supplied with residue-positive sea bass 3. Spanish farms implicated: Aquanaria S.L. Gran Canaria + other REGA-registered producers 4. Laboratory results: VMD National Reference Laboratory analysis Spanish sea bass samples 5. Enforcement: Warnings/fines issued to importers for residue breaches

2. Our reply

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for coordinating and managing the GB Residues Control Plan for veterinary medicine residues in food produced within the Great Britain. This includes surveillance of red meat, poultry, milk, eggs, honey, game, and farmed fish.

For imported fish and other products of animal origin, surveillance and official controls are carried out by Port Health Authorities, as directed by by the Food Standard’s Agency’s (FSA) National Monitoring Plan. These authorities conduct veterinary import checks, including monitoring for veterinary residues, and ensure that exporting countries have a valid GB approved residue control plan before aquaculture products can enter the UK.

Because the FSA oversees official controls for imported fish, you may wish to submit your request to them directly. Information on how to do so can be found at: https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information.

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