The current status of DNA barcoding technology for species identification in fish value chains

DNA barcoding technology is championed as superior to current species identification methods because of its expert-authenticated verification system and accuracy. Despite the general consensus that DNA barcoding is a valuable innovation for authenticating food products vulnerable to substitution, this paper explores some of the challenges to the formal adoption of barcoding into multi-level policy. It discusses the scope of the problem of mislabelling and substitution in fish value chains, how barcoding is currently used in the public and private sectors, and some recommendations for further implementation. It also includes a discussion of the status of DNA barcoding in the United States and in Canada's food safety surveillance systems to combat fraud, mislabelling and species substitution in fish value chains.