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Ref:417/02 |
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UNITED
STATES
- Sep 15, 2002 |
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Aquaculture
Certification Council Forming;
Training Course Set for October |
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Over the past several years, the
Global Aquaculture Alliance
developed the Responsible Aquaculture Program to promote
best management practices at aquaculture farms. The program
is based largely on GAA's "Codes of Practice for Responsible
Shrimp Farming" and data gleaned from extensive reviews of
international standards.
By applying the
guidelines contained in the codes, farm operators can
voluntarily evaluate the environmental performance of their
operations in such areas as mangrove conservation, effluent
discharge, chemical use, salinization, and others. Social
issues are also addressed.
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Although an initial goal for RAP
was to establish a certification system that would allow
eligible products to display an "ecolabel" at the consumer
level, the GAA board of directors determined this approach
was too costly, complex, and prone to liability. Instead,
the program was redirected as a "process" rather than
"product" certification, with an orientation toward seafood
buyers rather than consumers.
GAA is now supporting the formation of the Aquaculture
Certification Council (ACC), an independent entity that will
administer this process certification.
Aquaculture Certification Council
The Aquaculture Certification Council is a new international
nongovernmental body that is being established to certify
environmental, social, and food safety standards at
aquaculture facilities throughout the world. ACC builds on
elements of the voluntary Responsible Aquaculture Program in
a certification system that incorporates onsite inspection
and effluent sampling with mandatory requirements for
product safety and traceability.
Certification inspections and site evaluations will be
carried out by a team of independent regional certifiers
trained by the council. ACC-approved certifiers collect fees
from participating farms for this work.
The primary benefit of participation in ACC's certification
program is greater marketability of aquaculture products. As
consumer demands for sustainable seafood increase and
international standards for food safety tighten, ACC
participants can gain a step on competitors by supplying a
"certified" product.
Although the Aquaculture Certification Council will
initially certify only farms, hatcheries, feed mills, and
processing plants will be incorporated into the
certification process in the future. Once the process is
established for shrimp, other species will also be included.
Certifier Training Course
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is assisting ACC in setting
up the council's initial certifier training course, which
will take place October 16-19 at the Grand Hotel in
Guayaquil, Ecuador. Additional training will be offered at
regular intervals in other geographic areas.
Certification companies are now encouraged to contact the
GAA Home Office for an application form. Applicants must
have no conflicts of interest, such as farm ownership,
consulting activities, or participation in the trade or
distribution of shrimp. They must also have the capability
to adhere to ACC guidelines and standards for certification.
Upon successful completion of the course, each graduate will
receive a certificate that indicates he or she is qualified
to administer ACC's certification program of "Best
Aquaculture Practices." The applicant's name and contact
information will also be listed on the ACC website, which is
currently in development. Participating farms are free to
select from this posted pool of certifiers.
ACC is temporarily sharing office space and staff with the
Global Aquaculture Alliance. For additional information on
the ACC certifier training course, contact the GAA Home
Office. Links will be posted on the GAA website once the ACC
site is completed. |
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