Responsible Aquaculture

Ensuring responsible aquaculture

Business Challenge

Aquaculture supplies 50% of all aquatic products for human consumption worldwide. Aquaculture has seen a steady growth over the past two decades and has strongly contributed to the worldwide decrease in fishing. Sustainability concerns of aquaculture products have pushed producers, processors, wholesalers and distributors to demonstrate the health and well-being of the animals, food safety, quality of feed, environmental protection and social responsibility. To this end, they seek to ensure the sustainability of their business by proving their responsible contribution to the aquaculture industry.

Solution

Bureau Veritas offers several services tailored to your company specific needs:

- BIO / Organic eco-label (Organic aquaculture) regarding European regulation (N°710/2009 -889/2008) and other national or private standards developed and recognized in production countries

- Friend of the Sea® eco-label: evaluation at farm and processing level regarding FOS standard

- Global G.A.P: certification at farm, feed and processing level regarding the Food Plus standard

- Bureau Veritas Responsible Aquaculture Recognition: for an integrated production chain (hatchery, growing farm, feed, slaughterhouse, processing)

- Responsible Sourcing Recognition for importer, processor and retailer

Why Choose Bureau Veritas?

Seafood expertise Bureau Veritas assists in every step of the seafood supply chain to ensure the highest standards are met along with Quality, Health & Safety, Environmental and Social Responsibility compliance. Major retailers have chosen Bureau Veritas for its seafood supply chain expertise and ship owners and food processing plants can benefit from Bureau Veritas’ complete marine services.

Network With a presence in over 140 countries worldwide, Bureau Veritas offers both international expertise and in-depth knowledge of local standards.

Mark of global recognition The Bureau Veritas mark is a widely recognized symbol of your organization’s ongoing commitment to excellence, sustainability and reliability.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

• Which eco-label do I chose for the European market?

  BIO/EU Organic certification has the best consumer, government and NGO recognition. This is the best choice if your production methods and processes are compatible to Organic technical specifications (European regulation 889/2008).

• What is the content for Global G.A.P certification?

  Initially created by European retailers, this certification is focused on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP). The audit evaluates for the farm level, animal health risk management, food safety and social and personnel safety. This certification also completes the IFS or BRC certification at the processing plant level. The new 2011 standard integrates all aquaculture species as well as feed producer certification.

• For my “responsible sourcing,” what is the best choice for improving my brand?

  You could use existing eco-labels to improve your visibility (BIO, FOS or the soon to come ASC*). Or you could decide to improve your supplies and demonstrate compliance with external evaluations. In this case, Bureau Veritas proposes a “business-to-business” solution with the Bureau Veritas recognition process for a responsible aquaculture integrated supply chain. The criteria are developed with you, your producer and Bureau Veritas supervision. *Aquaculture Stewardship Council

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