Health authority postpones decision on Premium of Iceland permit

Morgunblaðið reports that a renewed operating permit application for fish processor Premium of Iceland in Reykjanesbær remains under review by the Suðurnes Health Inspectorate. A decision has been postponed until the next meeting of the municipalities’ health committee, scheduled for November 26.

The committee’s minutes say the company was previously denied registration and appealed the matter to the Environmental and Natural Resources Appeals Committee. The documents contain nothing to indicate that circumstances have changed since the decision to deny the company an operating permit, the minutes state.

The committee is seeking the municipality’s position on how planning policies relate to fish processing in planning area M10. It also wants to give the company an opportunity to present its views before a decision is made at the next meeting.

Earlier this month, Reykjanesbær Mayor Vilhjálmur Árnason told the newspaper that businesses in the area should be allowed to continue operating unless a decision is made otherwise, such as a plan to build new housing or the adoption of a new detailed development plan. He had previously urged the company to submit a new application to move the case forward.