Current issues and the regulatory framework for justifying the shelf life of fish products

Determining the shelf life of fish products is a complex scientific and practical task that requires an interdisciplinary approach integrating microbiology, biochemistry, sensory analysis and food technology. This article reviews the regulatory and methodological framework currently in force in the Russian Federation that establish the methodological basis for shelf-life determination: Methodological Guidelines MUK 4.2.1847-04 [1], and the recently introduced standards - Preliminary National Standard PNST 826-2023 [2] and GOST ISO 16779-2017 [3]. International practices applied in the European Union [8, 9], the United States [10, 11], Canada [12], and Asia-Pacific countries [13] are also examined. Based on a comparative analysis of the domestic system for establishing shelf life, the paper proposes recommendations for modernizing the methodological framework, harmonizing it with international standards, and strengthening the scientific foundation underlying shelf-life determination for fish products.