Dutch certification services provider Control Union announced Wednesday, 20 April it has bought a stake in fishery consultants MacAlister Elliott and Partners and subsidiary ME Certification. The move will give Control Union a larger presence in fisheries and aquaculture certification.
The agreement will be signed at Seafood Expo Global on 26 to 28 April in Brussels, Belgium. While the purchase agreement gives Control Union a minority share in the two companies, the agreement will “pave the way for Control Union to acquire a full shareholding within five years,” according to a press release.
“We are delighted to be forming this partnership with MEP and MEC,” Control Union Certification Director Johan Maris said. “This will strengthen the position of all entities involved and will help bring MEP and MEC’s vast experience and technical knowledge within the fisheries and aquaculture sector to our existing customer base and beyond.”
MEP was founded to offer fisheries and aquaculture consultancy services to developing nations. In 2014, it formed the wholly owned subsidiary, ME Certification, to manage and develop its certification business. Both companies will remain based in Lymington, England, and their management teams will remain unchanged under the agreement.
The new partnership enhances the ability of the three companies to offer a range of services in fisheries and aquaculture globally. Control Union offers certification programs in food and feed, and the new partnership with MEP and MEC will give it the ability to offer Marine Stewardship Council certification and will give it more experience with Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification.
“We have been looking at opportunities to strengthen our current services, particularly in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture certification. This new link with Control Union provides the perfect opportunity for us to offer new business streams while also being able to take advantage of their global presence and network,” said MEP Managing Director David Elliott.
At Seafood Expo Global, Control Union will be at stand 4-5810; MEP and MEC will share a stand at 6-846. An exact time and location for the signing of the agreement has not yet been announced.
