In a statement, ASAE explains that the authorities did not find any registration of the operator in question at the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV), "nor did it have documents that would allow traceability of the existing product (octopus), mandatory conditions for the exercise of activity and carrying out intra-community trade".

The 8.5 tonnes of octopus, both fresh and frozen, were subjected to direct macroscopic examination.

The veterinarian "considered that, of the 8.5 tonnes of fresh and frozen octopus seized, 6.5 tonnes had not undergone organoleptic changes and had the necessary health requirements for human consumption, having determined their donation to the Banco Alimentar Contra Fome de Faro, for immediate consumption".

The remaining 1.5 tonnes of seized octopus did not pass the required tests and the authorities performed "its destruction in a legally approved By-Product Transformation Unit."