Unscheduled committee meeting stalls Premium of Iceland permit review

The Southwest Iceland Health Inspectorate says a review of its refusal to grant Premium of Iceland a licence to operate its fish-processing business in Reykjanesbær depends on a committee meeting, with no date set, mbl.is reports.

The company reapplied for a licence at the request of the town’s mayor. In mid-October, the inspectorate told it that the application had to be considered by the health committee representing municipalities in the Suðurnes region. The inspectorate gave no indication of when the committee would meet.

Premium of Iceland managing director Gylfi Þór Markússon said the response was disappointing and questioned whether the handling of the application complied with good administrative practice. He said another business nearby had received a similar response.

The company was denied an operating licence in the spring because its operations were deemed inconsistent with local planning rules. Daily fines against it were confirmed in September. Markússon has disputed the handling of the case, arguing that the business should only have to register its operations. He has also said he is considering seeking compensation from the town.

Markússon said the case had led to layoffs and cost the company a planned investment of ISK 300 million. Reykjanesbær Mayor Vilhjálmur Árnason said the town’s position was that businesses in the area should be allowed to continue operating until a decision says otherwise. He said the matter remains with the health inspectorate and hoped the committee would meet soon, noting that it must meet regularly to process registrations.