SURSTROMMING AND THE LAW.

SURSTROMMING AND THE LAW. Surstromming is banned by airlines, and Grundberg says that there is a possible $50,000 fine for a can of surstromming that opens in a cabin or cargo bay. Presumably the airlines are worried about the powerful odor.There have also been regulatory struggles with the European Union. The European Union had been trying to ban surstromming—not because of the smell—but on the theory that surstromming is dangerous because it contains high levels of dioxin and PCBs. The upshot has been that Sweden is permitted to make and sell surstromming, but the Swedish government is required to maintain give warnings of the dangers of surstromming. At the same time Sweden is seeking “origin protection” for surströmming. Origin protection would mean that only surströmming produced in Sweden could be identified as genuine. (Think of champagne or of a wine that can only be produced in a particular location). Sweden could be concerned about other countries going in to the surstromming business, but I imagine that polishing the brand image is of more immediate interest.