Fish species testing and verification

Fish species testing helps you to verify fish and seafood authenticity in raw and processed products, and detect undeclared substitutions and traces of species DNA in environmental swabs. Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories support you to ensure label accuracy, regulatory compliance and consumer trust.

Applications of fish species testing

  • Confirm that fish species on product labels are accurate
  • Detect substitution with undeclared or lower value‑species
  • Support compliance with EU marketing and labelling standards for fish and aquaculture products
  • Help prevent products linked to IUU fishing from entering supply chains
  • Monitor authenticity across retail, wholesale, food service, and import channels
  • Provide cleaning verification for production environments

Reliable fish species testing using DNA analysis

Using a species-specific PCR-technique, we can compare the genetic profile of a sample against curated reference data to identify declared and undeclared species. Testing can be performed on a wide range of matrices, such as fresh, frozen, smoked, canned, or mixed ingredient products and environmental surface swabs.

For testing, DNA is extracted from the sample and target sequences are amplified by RT-PCR using species-specific‑primers and probes, or identified by DNA barcoding, such as Sanger sequencing, where appropriate. These approaches enable high-specificity‑detection, including in processed products where DNA may be fragmented. Eurofins Food & Feed Testing offers accredited methods for qualitative and semiquantitative analysis to determine which species are present.

Why choose Eurofins Food & Feed Testing?

  • High sensitivity: we can detect trace levels of undeclared species, including in processed products
  • Versatility: suitable for fresh, frozen, smoked, canned, and mixed ingredient seafood
  • Compliance support: we help you to demonstrate alignment with EU labelling and marketing requirements
  • Customisable testing: target a single species or screen for multiple species in one analysis
  • Proactive risk management: we support fraud prevention and supply chain integrity

Get in touch

Would you like to find out more about our testing solutions, access our competence centre services, or do you need tailored analytical or consultancy support?

Contact Eurofins Food Testing UK today to speak to our experts by submitting an enquiry form or calling +44 (0) 845 604 6740.

Contact us