Haarlem, The Netherlands.– The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative has provided formal recognition of the GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Certification System for the scope of Aquaculture. GSSI’s recognition shows that the GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Certification System, for their GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance System (Aquaculture V5.1-1, 10 November 2017) is in alignment with all applicable Essential Components of the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool (version 1.0, 8 October 2015). The Tool is underpinned by the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification and consists of performance areas related to scheme governance, operational management (including chain of custody) and applied aquaculture farm audit standards.
The GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Certification System is the fifth seafood certification scheme, and the second global aquaculture scheme, to be benchmarked against GSSI’s Global Benchmark Tool and achieve recognition.
“GLOBALG.A.P.’s completion of the benchmarking process and achieving GSSI recognition shows they are in line with the FAO’s guidelines for aquaculture certification. Their joining GSSI’s recognized schemes bolsters the mission of The Global Benchmark Tool in ensuring confidence in the supply and promotion of certified seafood.” said Herman Wisse, Managing Director, GSSI.
“We are very pleased to receive this formal recognition by GSSI that the GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Certification System meets industry-wide sustainability requirements.” said Kristian Moeller, CEO GLOBALG.A.P. “This complements our food safety benchmark with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), hereby offering single certification for farmers to meet global consumer expectations.”
ABOUT GLOBAL.G.A.P.
GLOBALG.A.P. is a leading global certification program for farm assurance in agriculture and aquaculture. Our mission is to bring farmers and retailers together to produce and market safe food to protect scarce resources and build a sustainable future.The GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Certification System addresses aspects of animal welfare and is currently the only one benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Visit www.globalgap.org and www.ggn.org for more information.
ABOUT THE GSSI GLOBAL BENCHMARK TOOL
The GSSI Global Benchmark Tool is underpinned by the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and other FAO guidelines. The Global Benchmark Tool provides clarity on, and transparency in, seafood certification by recognizing robust and credible certification schemes, and supporting them in identifying areas for improvement. Seafood certification schemes go through a seven step Benchmark Process to be recognized by GSSI. The expert led process involves objective assessments made against the Benchmark Framework. The process has been designed to be independent, impartial and transparent. The Benchmark Process is open to all certification schemes.
ABOUT GSSI
The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) is a global platform and partnership of seafood companies, NGOs, experts, governmental and intergovernmental organizations working towards more sustainable seafood for everyone. GSSI’s mission is to ensure confidence in the supply and promotion of certified seafood, as well as, to promote improvement in seafood certification schemes. For more information, visit www.ourgssi.org .
View the GSSI Benchmark Report for GLOBALG.A.P
http://www.ourgssi.org/benchmarking/recognized-schemes/globalg.a.p-aquaculture-certification-system/
