AquaGen Profunda in Barstadvik has now been officially certified by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) with both WOAH (World Organization for Animal Health) status and EU approval for export. This makes AquaGen Profunda the only facility in Norway to achieve this level of certification. Internationally, it is among a very small number of facilities with documented freedom from listed diseases and full biosecurity control throughout the entire production cycle. The certification marks a major milestone for safe, export-ready genetics from land-based salmon production.
AquaGen Profunda is Norway’s only land-based, full-cycle broodstock and egg production facility, with a closed population and year-round production of eggs and milt. The facility features high biosecurity, an independent water supply, and full control of all biological and technical parameters, making it unique in an international context.
“This is a long-awaited certification for us, and a significant milestone for everyone investing in land-based salmon production worldwide. With this approval, AquaGen strengthens its position as a future global supplier of salmon eggs. Norwegian AquaGen eggs now have the potential to become a key resource in salmon farming globally. The certificate confirms both the quality and the biosecurity of AquaGen Profunda, and provides a solid foundation for further international growth and collaboration,” said Knut Røflo, CEO of AquaGen.
The official declaration, issued by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, confirms that AquaGen Profunda meets the requirements to be classified as an isolated and disease-free compartment. The facility has been tested and documented free from the following serious pathogens: ISAV HPR-deleted, SAV, IHNV, VHSV, IPNV, PMCV, PRV, BKD, Yersinia ruckeri, Piscirickettsia salmonis, and Gyrodactylus salaris.
The certification is based on extensive sampling and documentation, carried out primarily by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority with support from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, which serves as one of WOAH’s European Collaborating Centres for Epidemiology and Risk Assessment. The certification requires annual renewal.
