# Council Regulation(EC) No 2406/96 of 26 November 1996 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products, Division C: SELACHII

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Criteria
Freshness category
Not admitted
Extra
A
B
Eye
Convex, very bright and iridescent; small pupils
Convex and slightly sunken; loss of brightness and iridescence, oval pupils
Flat, dull
Concave yellowish
Appearance
In rigor mortis or partially in rigor; small quantity of clear mucus present on skin
Beyond rigor stage; no mucus on skin and especially in mouth and gill openings
Some mucus in mouth and on gill openings; slightly flattened jaw
Large quantities of mucus in mouth and on gill openings
Smell
Seaweed smell
No smell or very slight stale but not an ammonia smell
Slight ammonia; sour
Pungent ammonia smell
Specific or additional criteria for skate
. . .
Or in a more advanced state of decay.
Extra
A
B
Not admitted
Skin
Bright, iridescent and shiny pigmentation, aqueous mucus
Bright pigmentation, aqueuous mucus
Pigmentation in the process of becoming discoloured and dull, opaque mucus
Discolouration, skin creased, thick mucus
Texture of the flesh
Firm and elastic
Firm
Soft
Flaccid
Aspect
Edge ot the fins translucent and curved
Stiff fins
Soft
Drooping
Belly
White and shiny with a mauvish edge around the fins
White and shiny with red patches limited to around the fins
White and dull, with numerous red or yellow patches
Yellow to greenish bellies red patches in the flesh itself

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/1996/2406/annex/I/division/8 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1996-2406/annex-I/division-8
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.