Cans of tinned fish often bear a variety of codes and markings that can help consumers trace the country of origin, specific cannery or packing facility, harvest area, and date of production. These codes are often stamped on the lid or bottom of the can and may follow specific national or international conventions. They may also be found on the carton, if so-packaged. Here’s an explanation of what to look for, followed by a list of known cannery codes (where available) and other relevant information:
What The Codes Mean
1. Cannery or Producer Code
- A letter or number code identifying the specific facility where the product was canned.
- In the EU, this code is often a sanitary approval number assigned to the processing facility and registered with food safety authorities.
- Format: May look like ES 12.345/SE CE, where:
- ES = Spain
- 12.345/SE = Cannery code
- CE = European Community (now often dropped)
2. Country of Origin Code
- Often appears as a two-letter country code such as:
- PT = Portugal
- ES = Spain
- FR = France
- IT = Italy
- MA = Morocco
- NO = Norway
Some cans may show full words like “Product of Portugal” or “Made in Spain.”
3. Harvest or Fishing Zone Code
- Especially required under EU rules.
- May appear as FAO area numbers, e.g.:
- FAO 27 = Northeast Atlantic
- FAO 34 = Eastern Central Atlantic
- FAO 51 = Western Indian Ocean
4. Lot or Batch Code
- Identifies the production batch, which is useful for quality control and recalls.
- Example: L123456
5. Production Date / Best Before Date
- Sometimes encoded using Julian date format or shorthand.
- Example: 1234 234 might indicate plant 1234 and day 234 of the year.
Examples of Cannery Codes by Country
SPAIN (ES)
Spain is a major exporter of tinned fish. Cannery codes are usually listed with ES followed by the regional facility ID.
| Code | Cannery Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| ES 12.0112/PO | Conservas Ortiz S.A. | Ondarroa, País Vasco |
| ES 12.0014/PO | Hijos de Carlos Albo S.A. (Albo) | Vigo, Galicia |
| ES 12.03819/C | Conservas La Brújula | Galicia |
| ES 12.00716/C | Conservas Ramón Peña | Galicia |
| ES 12.07506/C | Conservas Cambados | Galicia |
PORTUGAL (PT)
Portugal has a well-regulated labeling system and rich cannery heritage.
| Code | Cannery Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| PT C1 | Ramirez & Cª (Filhos), SA | Matosinhos |
| PT C5 | Conservas Portugal Norte (Porthos) | Matosinhos |
| PT C9 | Cofaco Açores SA (Santa Catarina) | Azores |
| PT C21 | Conservas Nero | Setúbal |
| PT C28 | Conservas Pinhais & Cia Lda | Matosinhos |
Note: Some Portuguese cans also use older “C+number” codes internally, e.g., C28.
MOROCCO (MA)
A major producer of sardines, especially for European and African markets.
| Code | Cannery Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| MA 05-131 | Belma | Agadir |
| MA 12-307 | King Pelagique | Laâyoune |
| MA 12-018 | Atlas Canning | Agadir |
| MA 05-206 | Unimer Group | Safi |
These are typically registered with the ONSSA (Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires).
FRANCE (FR)
| Code | Cannery Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| FR 29.232.001 CE | La Belle-Iloise | Quiberon |
| FR 29.188.001 CE | Conserverie Gonidec (Les Mouettes d’Arvor) | Concarneau |
Other Markings
CE Mark
- Some cans include the "CE" mark (European conformity), especially on older cans.
- Now largely optional but seen on long shelf-life products.
Halal or Kosher Symbols
- Particularly common on Moroccan, Tunisian, or Israeli products.
Barcodes and QR codes
- Some brands now include scannable codes that link to traceability platforms (e.g., origin of fish, date packed, vessel name).
Tips For Identifying Cannery and Origin
- Look for the country code at the start or near the can seam, or on the box.
- Scan for factory ID or approval code (often has /CE, /C, or /PO).
- Note the FAO area if you're interested in where the fish was caught.
- Decode Julian dates by counting days into the year (e.g., 234 = August 21st).
- Visit brand websites—some (like Ortiz, Pinhais, or La Brújula) provide full traceability.
A Sampling of Canneries and Brands They Serve
| Cannery / Operator | FAO Area | Country | Plant Code | Notes / Brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservas Portugal Norte | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C220 1P CE | Porthos, Da Morgada |
| Conservas Portugal Norte | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C227 1P CE | Porthos, Briosa, Trader Joe’s, BELA |
| Conservas Pinhais | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C233 1P CE | Nuri, Mabuti |
| Ramirez | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C234 1P CE | Sea Tales, others |
| Lucas | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C237 1P CE | Belmar, Da Magorda, Good Boy, Jupiter, etc. |
| A Poveira (Minerva) | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C249 1P CE | Sea Tales, Bela, Trader Joe’s, Prato do Mar |
| Angelo Parodi (Portugal plant) | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C221 1P CE | Italian brand canned in Portugal |
| Esip (Thai Union‑owned) | FAO 27 | Portugal | PT C241 1P CE | New operation |
| Thai Union Poland (former King Oscar plant) | FAO 27 | Poland | PL 22151811 WE | King Oscar, Rügen Fisch, Chicken of the Sea |
| Conservas Del Noroeste (Connorsa) | FAO 27 | Spain | ES 12.00424/PO | Cabo de Penas, Matiz, Fishwife |
| International Fish Canners, Eyemouth, Scotland | FAO 27 | UK | GB BB008 EC | A variety of smoked/sardine products |
| King Pelagique, Atlas Canning, Unimer groups | FAO 34 | Morocco | MA 12‑307 etc. | Sardines & others, code starts with MA |
| Generic Moroccan copackers (white-label brands) | FAO 34 | Morocco | CX codes | e.g., Season brand |