Market Square fishmongers threaten to quit over refrigeration requirement

Ice not enough: new hygiene regulations could take effect in June

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Proposed new regulations on selling food at open markets have angered fish vendors at Helsinki's Market Square, and some are threatening to quit if the rules come into effect.
      The Environment Board of the City of Helsinki will discuss new regulations on outdoor sales at its meeting next week.
      If the proposal of the Helsinki Environment Centre is passed, the regulations would take effect from the beginning of June
     
Under Paragraph 13 of the proposed regulations, refrigeration equipment will be required in places where any foodstuffs are handled that spoil easily.
      Fish spoil easily, but refrigeration equipment would cost tens of thousands of euros.
      Currently fish on sale in open markets are generally kept cold in Styrofoam boxes containing crushed ice, but the new rules would require that the market vendors invest in expensive refrigeration equipment.
      "If we get equipment costing a million, we can keep selling the same fish for a week, but nobody will invest that kind of money", said fish vendor Tarmo Mäkiaho.
      "We don't see any health inspectors here in the winter. They show up in the spring, at the same time as the seagulls. They should go to the sales counters in Southern Europe. Here we have four seasons. It is quite a significant matter."
     
By chance, health inspector Laura Saajasto of the Helsinki Environment Centre showed up at the fish counter just as the discussion was heating up.
      Saajasto tried to calm down the emotions, noting that there would be a transitional period.
      At the same time she pressed her thermometer against the side of some smoked fish.
      The result, +8 degrees Celsius, was acceptable under existing standards. However, from June 1st, the maximum permissible temperature will be +6°C.


Links:
  Wikipedia: Market Square, Helsinki

Helsingin Sanomat