Fish fillets, frozen

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers unbreaded fish fillets that are cut from food-grade fish, quick-frozen, optionally glazed, packed, and supplied frozen at the processing-facility gate for direct consumption after normal food preparation. It supports wild-caught and aquaculture species when the source-fish production system, species, origin, and upstream dataset are declared.

The foreground boundary starts with accepted fish at the processing facility and includes receiving and cold holding, filleting, trimming, washing, optional skinning and deboning, quick freezing, optional glazing, packing, frozen storage, and factory-gate dispatch preparation. Source-fish production and inbound transport are represented by linked upstream datasets. Breaded or battered products, minced fish, formed portions, smoked, dried, salted, canned, cooked, ready-to-eat products, products declared for further industrial processing, retail distribution, consumer cooking, and end-of-life are outside this PCR.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.meat-fish-fruits-vegetables-oils-and-fats.fish-fillets-frozen
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 21222, Fish fillets, frozen (exact mapping context)
covered_products	Unbreaded frozen or quick-frozen fish fillets, including individually quick-frozen or block-packed fillets, with or without skin or bones, and with or without glaze
excluded_products	Fresh or chilled fillets; frozen minced fish or fish meat that is not presented as fillets; breaded or battered portions; smoked, dried, salted, canned, cooked, or ready-to-eat fish; products labelled for further industrial processing
representative_product	Packed, unbreaded quick-frozen fish fillets for direct consumption after normal food preparation
production_route	Food-grade source fish receipt → filleting/trimming/washing → quick freezing → optional glazing → packing → frozen storage → factory gate
market_state	Frozen at -18 °C or colder at the thermal centre after stabilization; net fish mass declared exclusive of glaze and packaging

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Provide edible, unbreaded frozen fish fillet suitable for direct consumption after normal food preparation
How much	1 kg net mass of fish fillet, excluding glaze and packaging
How well	Product is cut as fillet, quick-frozen to -18 °C or colder at the thermal centre after stabilization, maintained frozen, and meets the declared species, presentation, glazing, and food-safety specifications
How long or cycle	One production lot through freezing, packing, and the declared factory frozen-storage period, delivered at the facility gate
reference_flow_link	rf_frozen_fish_fillets

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg net fish mass
Reference product flow	Frozen Fish 130aa38f-8c63-4d0b-ad05-0b2c4426cdd8
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	fish species; wild-caught or aquaculture origin; catch or farm origin and source-fish dataset; fillet presentation and cut; skin and bone status; glazing status and glaze mass; freezing technology; processing location; frozen-storage duration; net mass excluding glaze and packaging

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_net_mass	Reference product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Normalize all inventory to 1 kg net fish fillet mass; exclude glaze, free ice, and packaging from the reference amount.
glaze_mass_separation	Glazed product	Mass	kg	Measure gross frozen mass and glaze mass separately by a documented deglazing or equivalent verified method; do not credit glaze as fish product mass.
lot_mass_balance	Fish, fillets, co-products, residues, and wastewater solids	Mass	kg	Use calibrated mass measurements on a consistent wet-mass basis and reconcile inputs with edible product, co-products, residues, and retained or discharged material for each aggregation period.
energy_conversion	Electricity and fuels	Energy	kWh or MJ	Preserve metered units and conversion factors; report electricity in kWh and fuels in their measured unit with lower- or higher-heating-value basis declared before conversion to MJ.
temperature_record	Freezing and frozen storage	Temperature	°C	Record calibrated product thermal-centre temperature at freezing completion and continuous or interval storage temperatures; the freezing endpoint is -18 °C or colder after thermal stabilization.
packaging_mass	Primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging	Mass	kg	Record packaging by material and normalize purchased mass minus documented returned or unused mass to the net reference product.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Food-grade fish received at the processing facility with species, origin, preservation state, lot mass, and linked upstream production and inbound-transport datasets declared
starting_condition_role	Upstream product input to the foreground filleting and freezing system
product_classification_scope	Unbreaded frozen fish fillets represented by CPC 3.0 code 21222 as classification context; PCR identity remains classification-independent
recursive_input_rule	When already-frozen fillets in this same category enter repacking or re-freezing, record them once as a linked upstream product dataset and model only the additional foreground operations; do not recursively regenerate the upstream fillet system
upstream_dataset_requirement	Supplier-, species-, origin-, and production-system-specific datasets for source fish and inbound transport are required where available; proxy use must be disclosed with geography, technology, and temporal limitations
disclosure	Declare source-fish production system, species, origin, preservation at receipt, filleting route, freezing and glazing technology, co-product handling, frozen-storage duration, electricity mix, refrigerant, allocation method, and excluded downstream stages

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_foreground_gate	Foreground processing	Include all material and energy flows from facility receipt of source fish through filleting, trimming, washing, quick freezing, optional glazing, packing, and frozen storage to the facility gate.	codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
boundary_upstream_links	Source fish and inbound supplies	Link upstream datasets for source fish, inbound transport, water, energy carriers, packaging, and other purchased materials; do not omit their burdens from a cradle-to-gate result.	eu-pef-2021-2279
boundary_cold_chain	Freezing and frozen storage	Include electricity, fuel, refrigerant losses, and product losses associated with freezing and the declared factory frozen-storage period.	codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
boundary_waste_treatment	Residues, wastewater, and packaging waste	Include on-site treatment and link off-site transport and treatment datasets for wastes crossing the facility boundary; separately identify co-products that leave for beneficial use.	eu-pef-2021-2279
boundary_downstream_exclusion	Downstream stages	Exclude post-gate distribution, retail, thawing, consumer cooking, consumption, and end-of-life unless the study explicitly expands the declared system; disclose every added downstream stage.	eu-pef-2021-2279

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
prepare_fillets	Receiving, filleting, trimming, and washing	required	Always included for source fish processed into fillets; document any received pre-filleted input	Foreground product preparation	kg prepared fillet leaving the step
quick_freeze_glaze	Quick freezing and optional glazing	required	Freezing is always included; glazing rows apply only when glaze is used	Foreground preservation	kg frozen fillet leaving the step, with glaze tracked separately
pack_store	Packing and factory frozen storage	required	Always included through the declared factory-gate storage period	Foreground packing and cold storage	1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate

Process: Receiving, filleting, trimming, and washing (prepare_fillets)

Inputs

Product flows

Food-grade source fish (source_fish_input)

Record the received species-specific fish input, including its preservation state and linked upstream production and inbound-transport datasets.

• Selected flow: Food-grade fish, species- and origin-specific (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted lot mass entering filleting
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional source-fish input QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: source fish input per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Preparation and washing water (preparation_water)

Record potable or otherwise food-safe water supplied for washing fish, fillets, equipment-contact carryover, and related preparation uses that cross the process boundary.

• Selected flow: Process water, food-contact quality (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered or tank-balance water supplied to the preparation step
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg prepared fillet output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional preparation-water QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 100
  • Unit: kg/kg prepared fillet
  • Basis: water supplied per prepared fillet output
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Preparation electricity (preparation_electricity)

Record metered electricity for receiving, conveyors, cutting, skinning, deboning, washing, and preparation-area refrigeration allocated to this step.

• Selected flow: Electricity, facility supply mix (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: submetered electricity or documented equipment load and operating time
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg prepared fillet output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional preparation-electricity QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kWh/kg prepared fillet
  • Basis: electricity per prepared fillet output
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

No waste enters this process as a required foreground input.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed; water and energy carriers are technosphere product inputs.

Outputs

Product flows

Prepared fish fillets (prepared_fillets_output)

Measure edible fillets transferred to freezing after trimming, washing, and any declared skinning or deboning.

• Selected flow: Prepared fish fillets, not yet frozen (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured prepared fillet wet mass leaving the step
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted source fish input
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional prepared-fillet yield QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.2
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg/kg accepted source fish
  • Basis: prepared fillet wet mass per accepted source fish input
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Edible or marketable fish co-products (fish_coproducts)

Record separately measured edible portions or other marketable fish materials that leave the foreground system as co-products rather than wastes.

• Selected flow: Species-specific fish co-product by declared use (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured co-product mass by destination and marketable product class
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted source fish input
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional co-product mass QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.8
  • Unit: kg/kg accepted source fish
  • Basis: separately marketed co-product wet mass per accepted source fish input
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Fish residues and rejects (fish_residues)

Record heads, frames, skin, bones, trimmings, rejected fish, and spoiled material by destination when they are not classified as co-products.

• Selected flow: Fish processing residue or waste by destination (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured wet mass of residues and rejects leaving the process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted source fish input
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional fish-residue QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.8
  • Unit: kg/kg accepted source fish
  • Basis: fish residue wet mass per accepted source fish input
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Preparation wastewater (preparation_wastewater)

Record wastewater leaving preparation, including entrained solids where measured separately from fish residues.

• Selected flow: Fish-processing wastewater (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured discharge volume converted using measured or documented density, with separately measured solids reported
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg prepared fillet output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional preparation-wastewater QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 100
  • Unit: kg/kg prepared fillet
  • Basis: wastewater discharge per prepared fillet output
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

No default elementary output is prescribed; report measured direct releases separately when present.

Process: Quick freezing and optional glazing (quick_freeze_glaze)

Inputs

Product flows

Prepared fillets transferred to freezing (prepared_fillets_input)

Carry forward the measured prepared fillet mass from prepare_fillets without creating a second upstream burden.

• Selected flow: Prepared fish fillets, not yet frozen (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: equals measured prepared_fillets_output transferred to this process
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional prepared-fillet input QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.5
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: prepared fillet input per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Freezing electricity (freezing_electricity)

Record metered electricity for freezers, pumps, fans, conveyors, defrosting, and process-area refrigeration assigned to freezing.

• Selected flow: Electricity, facility supply mix (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: submetered freezing electricity or documented equipment load and operating time
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional freezing-electricity QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 10
  • Unit: kWh/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: freezing electricity per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Glazing water (glazing_water)

When glazing is used, record potable water or clean seawater applied as glaze and retain it separately from net fish mass.

• Selected flow: Potable water or clean seawater for glazing (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured glazing water retained on product, determined from gross and deglazed net mass
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995
• Range: Provisional glaze-mass QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: retained glaze mass per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

No waste enters this process as a required foreground input.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed; electricity and water are technosphere product inputs.

Outputs

Product flows

Frozen fillets transferred to packing (frozen_fillets_intermediate)

Record frozen fillet mass after thermal stabilization, with retained glaze tracked separately.

• Selected flow: Frozen fish fillets, unpacked intermediate (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured frozen gross mass minus separately determined glaze mass
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995
• Range: Provisional freezing-stage net-yield QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.2
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: unpacked net frozen fillet transferred per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Glazing and defrost wastewater (freezing_wastewater)

Record water discharged from glazing, freezer defrost, and cleaning assigned to this process.

• Selected flow: Fish-processing wastewater (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured discharge volume converted using measured or documented density
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional freezing-wastewater QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 50
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: freezing-stage wastewater per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Refrigerant released during freezing (freezing_refrigerant_loss)

Calculate direct refrigerant emissions from inventory change, purchases, recovery, and transfers for equipment serving the freezing process.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant substance, chemical-specific emission to air (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: opening charge plus additions minus recovered, transferred, and closing charge, allocated to freezing
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional refrigerant-loss QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.1
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: chemical-specific refrigerant loss per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Process: Packing and factory frozen storage (pack_store)

Inputs

Product flows

Frozen fillets transferred to packing (frozen_fillets_input)

Carry forward frozen net fillet and separately tracked glaze mass from quick_freeze_glaze without duplicating upstream burdens.

• Selected flow: Frozen fish fillets, unpacked intermediate (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: equals frozen_fillets_intermediate transferred to packing, with glaze mass separate
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_lot_mass_identity
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995
• Range: Provisional packing-input QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.2
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: unpacked net frozen fillet input per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Packaging materials (packaging_materials)

Record primary, secondary, and allocated tertiary packaging by material type, including liners, cartons, films, labels, and pallets where applicable.

• Selected flow: Packaging material, material-specific (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchased packaging issued minus returned unused packaging, by material
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional packaging-mass QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: total packaging material input per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Frozen-storage electricity (storage_electricity)

Record electricity for packing equipment, cold rooms, fans, pumps, lighting, and defrosting over the declared factory storage period.

• Selected flow: Electricity, facility supply mix (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: submetered packing and cold-storage electricity allocated by measured use, time, and occupied capacity
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
• Range: Provisional storage-electricity QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kWh/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: packing and factory-storage electricity per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

No waste enters this process as a required foreground input.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed; electricity and packaging are technosphere product inputs.

Outputs

Product flows

Packed frozen fish fillets (reference_product_output)

This is the quantitative reference output; net fish mass excludes glaze and packaging.

• Selected flow: Frozen Fish 130aa38f-8c63-4d0b-ad05-0b2c4426cdd8
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: exactly 1 kg net fish fillet mass at facility gate
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Not applicable (not_applicable)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)
• Sources: codex-cxs-190-1995

Waste flows

Packaging waste and damaged product packs (packaging_waste)

Record packaging scrap, damaged packs, and rejected packed product by material and destination without netting them from purchased packaging inputs.

• Selected flow: Packaging waste, material-specific (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured packaging and damaged-pack waste leaving the process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional packaging-waste QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: packaging and damaged-pack waste per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Refrigerant released during frozen storage (storage_refrigerant_loss)

Calculate direct chemical-specific refrigerant emissions from equipment serving packing and frozen storage.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant substance, chemical-specific emission to air (UUID pending exact Tiangong review)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: opening charge plus additions minus recovered, transferred, and closing charge, allocated to packing and storage
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net frozen fish fillet at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional storage-refrigerant-loss QA range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.1
  • Unit: kg/kg net frozen fish fillet
  • Basis: chemical-specific refrigerant loss per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivision_first	Shared preparation, freezing, packing, and storage operations	Avoid allocation where possible by submetering and subdividing operations, lots, equipment, and storage periods so inputs and outputs are directly assigned to the frozen fillet product.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_physical_relationship	Unresolved multifunctional processes	When subdivision or system expansion is not practicable, apply a documented causal physical relationship; for jointly processed fish outputs with no stronger causal parameter, use wet mass measured at the separation point and test sensitivity to dry matter or another functionally relevant property.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_economic_fallback	Co-products lacking a defensible physical relationship	Use economic allocation only when no defensible physical relationship can be established; use representative annual average net prices at the same market boundary and disclose price sources, period, currency, and sensitivity.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_waste_no_credit	Fish residues, wastewater, packaging waste, and rejected product	Do not assign co-product credit to material classified and managed as waste. Include treatment burdens and report any system-expansion or avoided-product credit separately with the substituted function and dataset disclosed.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_mass_reconciliation	All co-products and wastes	Preserve the unallocated wet-mass balance before applying allocation and report allocation factors that sum to one across burden-bearing products.	eu-pef-2021-2279

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_lot_mass_identity	prepare_fillets; quick_freeze_glaze; pack_store	Fish inputs, intermediates, product, co-products, residues, glaze	Weighbridge, scale, batch, and product-specification records	lot_id; species; origin; production_system; preservation_state; gross_mass; tare_mass; glaze_mass; net_fish_mass; co_product_mass; residue_mass; destination	Calibrated scales with linked lot and transfer records; verified deglazing or equivalent method for glaze	kg	Each lot and transfer	At least 12 consecutive representative months or the full seasonal campaign	Each included processing site and relevant line	Sum valid masses by lot and process; reconcile transfers; normalize to accepted net reference product	Calibration certificates; lot traceability; product specification; deglazing method; reconciliation log
cp_water_records	prepare_fillets; quick_freeze_glaze	Preparation and glazing water	Meter, tank, and batch records	meter_id; opening_reading; closing_reading; batch_volume; water_source; food_contact_quality; allocation_key	Submetered supply or documented tank balance linked to operating period	kg or m3	Daily and each glazing lot	Same representative period as production	Each included site and water system	Convert volume using measured or documented density; subtract documented non-process use; normalize to process output	Meter checks; potable or clean-seawater verification; batch records
cp_energy_records	prepare_fillets; quick_freeze_glaze; pack_store	Electricity and fuels	Meter, invoice, equipment-runtime, and storage-occupancy records	meter_id; opening_reading; closing_reading; fuel_quantity; unit; equipment_power; operating_hours; storage_days; occupied_capacity; allocation_key	Submeter first; otherwise reconcile invoices with documented equipment load, runtime, and occupied capacity	kWh, MJ, or purchased fuel unit	Monthly plus batch or shift submetering where available	At least 12 consecutive representative months or full seasonal campaign	Each included site, line, freezer, and cold room	Assign direct meters; allocate residual shared use by documented physical driver; normalize to process output	Meter calibration; invoices; runtime logs; allocation worksheet; energy balance
cp_wastewater_records	prepare_fillets; quick_freeze_glaze	Wastewater and entrained solids	Effluent meter, tank, sampling, and treatment records	discharge_volume; density; solids_mass; treatment_route; sampling_time; process_assignment	Meter or tank balance with representative sampling and treatment-route records	kg or m3	Daily or per discharge event	Same representative period as production	Each included discharge point	Convert volume to mass; keep separately measured solids distinct; normalize to process output	Meter checks; laboratory reports; discharge and treatment manifests
cp_refrigerant_records	quick_freeze_glaze; pack_store	Chemical-specific refrigerant loss	Equipment charge, purchase, service, recovery, and transfer records	refrigerant_id; opening_charge; additions; recovered; transferred; closing_charge; equipment_service	Annual or campaign inventory balance by refrigerant and equipment group	kg	Each service event and annual close	At least one complete inventory balance covering the production period	Each included freezer and cold-storage equipment group	Loss = opening + additions - recovered - transferred - closing; allocate by equipment service or documented cooling load	Service invoices; cylinder logs; recovery records; inventory sign-off
cp_packaging_records	pack_store	Packaging input and waste	Purchase, issue, bill-of-material, return, and scrap records	material_id; material_type; purchased_mass; issued_mass; returned_mass; scrap_mass; packs_produced; pallet_reuse_cycles	Mass reconciliation by packaging material and product format	kg	Each packaging run, aggregated monthly	Same representative period as production	Each included packing line and product format	Net input = issued - returned; keep scrap output separate; allocate reusable tertiary packaging by verified use cycles	Supplier specification; purchase records; stock reconciliation; scrap tickets
cp_temperature_records	quick_freeze_glaze; pack_store	Freezing endpoint and frozen storage	Calibrated probe and cold-room logger records	lot_id; probe_id; thermal_centre_temperature; stabilization_time; room_temperature; timestamp; excursion_action	Product-core measurements at validated locations plus continuous or justified interval storage logging	°C	Each lot at freezing completion; continuous or justified interval for storage	Entire included production and storage period	Each freezer, lot, and cold room	Retain lot minimum/maximum and excursion duration; link corrective action to affected lot	Calibration certificate; validation study; logger record; excursion and corrective-action log

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	All inventory rows	Normalized amount = valid foreground amount / net frozen fish fillet mass at facility gate	Valid flow amount; net_fish_mass excluding glaze and packaging	Amount per 1 kg reference flow	codex-cxs-190-1995
calc_net_fish_mass	Glazed products	Net fish mass = gross frozen product mass - verified glaze mass; packaging is excluded from both product masses	gross_mass; glaze_mass; packaging tare	net_fish_mass	codex-cxs-190-1995
calc_process_mass_balance	prepare_fillets and quick_freeze_glaze	Mass-balance difference = accepted material inputs - separately measured product, co-product, waste, retained glaze, and discharged material outputs; investigate material unexplained differences	Lot masses; water retained where relevant; product, co-product, residue, wastewater-solid, and glaze masses	Reconciled mass-balance record and unexplained difference	codex-cxc-52-2003
calc_refrigerant_loss	Freezing and storage equipment	Refrigerant loss = opening charge + additions - recovered - transferred - closing charge	Chemical-specific equipment inventory fields	kg refrigerant emitted, allocated to process output	eu-pef-2021-2279
calc_physical_allocation	Joint products	Allocation factor_i = selected causal physical quantity_i / sum of that quantity for all burden-bearing products	Measured quantities at separation point; selected physical property	Product-specific allocation factors summing to one	eu-pef-2021-2279
calc_economic_allocation	Economic fallback	Allocation factor_i = representative net market value_i / sum of net market values for all burden-bearing co-products at the same boundary	Annual average prices; measured co-product quantities	Economic allocation factors summing to one	eu-pef-2021-2279

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity_traceability	Source fish and product lots	Preserve species, wild-caught or aquaculture production system, origin, supplier, receipt state, lot links, presentation, skin/bone status, glaze status, and product destination.	Supplier specification, receiving record, lot genealogy, product label
dq_temporal_representativeness	All foreground flows	Cover at least 12 consecutive representative months or the complete seasonal production campaign; disclose shutdowns, missing periods, and extrapolation.	Dated meter, batch, invoice, service, and production records
dq_site_coverage	Multi-site datasets	Include every site represented by the dataset or report production-weighted coverage and excluded sites; do not silently extrapolate one site to another.	Site list, production totals, coverage calculation
dq_measurement_control	Mass, energy, water, refrigerant, and temperature	Use calibrated or verified instruments, retain units and conversion factors, and document estimates used when direct metering is unavailable.	Calibration certificates, meter checks, conversion worksheet, estimation rationale
dq_mass_completeness	Fish, co-products, residues, glaze, and packaging	Reconcile all major material inputs and outputs and investigate unexplained differences; preserve waste and co-product destinations.	Process mass balance, stock reconciliation, waste manifests, sales records
dq_food_safety_quality	Finished product	Demonstrate suitable source-fish quality, food-contact water quality, freezing endpoint, frozen-storage control, net mass exclusive of glaze, and applicable lot-acceptance checks.	HACCP or food-safety plan, water test, temperature logs, net-content test, inspection record
dq_upstream_dataset_fit	Source fish and purchased inputs	Document geography, technology, time period, production system, and proxy limitations for each material upstream dataset.	Dataset metadata and data-quality assessment

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_identity	Reference flow	Require exactly 1 kg net fish fillet mass linked to product flow 130aa38f-8c63-4d0b-ad05-0b2c4426cdd8, Mass property 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66, mass unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66, and unit kg.	codex-cxs-190-1995
validate_required_qualifiers	Dataset metadata	Fail completeness when species, production system and origin, fillet presentation, skin/bone status, glazing status and mass, freezing technology, processing location, storage duration, or net-mass basis is missing.	codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
validate_freezing_endpoint	Each finished-product lot	Require evidence that the thermal centre reached -18 °C or colder after stabilization and that the product remained frozen during the included storage period; flag unassessed excursions.	codex-cxs-190-1995
validate_glaze_exclusion	Glazed products	Require separately measured glaze and confirm that declared net fish mass excludes glaze and packaging.	codex-cxs-190-1995
validate_process_coverage	Foreground inventory	Require receiving/preparation, filleting/trimming/washing, quick freezing, optional glazing when used, packing, factory frozen storage, co-product and waste handling, wastewater, energy, and refrigerant records or explicit justified zero/not-applicable declarations.	codex-cxs-190-1995; codex-cxc-52-2003
validate_mass_balance	Each aggregation period	Require accepted source fish and other retained material inputs to reconcile with net product, co-products, residues, glaze, wastewater solids, and stock change; report the unexplained difference and corrective action rather than silently balancing it.	codex-cxc-52-2003
validate_allocation	Multifunctional processes	Require documented subdivision attempt, selected physical relationship or justified economic fallback, allocation factors summing to one, and sensitivity disclosure where the method could materially change results.	eu-pef-2021-2279
validate_temporal_site_coverage	Foreground dataset	Require the declared representative period and site coverage, with missing periods, excluded sites, and extrapolation disclosed.	eu-pef-2021-2279
validate_provisional_ranges	Candidate QA ranges	Treat every reasoned_estimate range only as a screening flag; do not replace foreground records with the range and require review or replacement before publication-critical use.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground frozen-fish-fillet production dataset normalized to 1 kg net product at the processing-facility gate
downstream_use	May be used as a secondary_dataset or background_dataset for food-product LCAs when species, origin, production system, geography, technology, storage duration, allocation, and data quality fit the study
allowed_use	Cradle-to-gate or downstream product systems that need a transparent frozen fish fillet input and preserve the declared upstream source-fish datasets and qualifiers
excluded_use	Direct representation of fresh fish, minced fish, breaded/battered products, smoked/dried/salted/canned/cooked products, retail or consumer stages, or another species/origin/technology without a documented representativeness assessment
required_metadata	PCR id and version; product flow UUID; species; wild-caught or aquaculture production system; source origin; upstream datasets; fillet presentation; skin/bone and glaze status; net-mass method; processing site; freezing technology; storage duration; electricity mix; refrigerant; co-product destinations; allocation method; reference period
required_quality_disclosure	Site and temporal coverage; mass-balance difference; meter and scale quality; temperature and food-safety evidence; source-data gaps; proxy datasets; provisional estimates; allocation sensitivity; excluded stages
update_trigger	Material change in species or source-fish production system, filleting yield, freezing or glazing technology, packaging, electricity mix, refrigerant, storage duration, co-product market, allocation basis, site coverage, food-safety requirement, or representative data period

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
codex-cxs-190-1995	standard	Codex Alimentarius Commission. CXS 190-1995, Standard for Quick-Frozen Fish Fillets, amended 2024 and redesigned 2026. https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/ce0070en (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Product scope and definition; quick-freezing endpoint; deep-frozen handling; glazing-water quality; net contents excluding glaze; labelling, sampling, defects, and lot acceptance
codex-cxc-52-2003	official_guidance	Codex Alimentarius Commission. CXC 52-2003, Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products, 2019 edition. https://workspace.fao.org/sites/codex/Standards/CXC%2052-2003/CXC_052e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Fish-processing step decomposition; hygienic handling; water, temperature, traceability, process control, waste, and cold-chain data requirements
eu-pef-2021-2279	official_guidance	European Commission. Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 on the use of the Environmental Footprint methods. CELEX 32021H2279. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2279/oj/eng (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Life-cycle boundary completeness; multifunctionality hierarchy of subdivision/system expansion, physical relationship, and economic fallback; upstream dataset and allocation disclosure