Global Trust has received an ISO 65 accreditation recommendation for its Food and Agriculture Organization-based Certification of Responsible Fisheries Management Program.
The ISO Guide 65 (known as EN45011 in Europe) recommendation encompasses the FAO-based standard, the third-party assessment process and the formal certification program that has been in place since 2010. Fisheries in Iceland, Alaska and Canada are using the certification. Certified fisheries can now use the term “Responsible Fisheries Management for Sustainable Use” now that the two-year long ISO accreditation evaluation process is complete. The ISO process clarifies at the highest level that the program has independence, transparency and credibility.
No other fishery certification management program in the world has received or can claim these formal and official ISO 65 accreditation accolades to date, Global Trust said in a prepared statement.
“This is great news for our clients and great news for Global Trust. It helps defend the FAO-based standard, the assessment process and certification process from false accusations, which would have previously confused markets. The program is appropriately named and is referred to as ‘FAO-based’ because it is directly derived from the FAO reference documents, specifically the FAO Code of Conduct and the FAO Eco-labelling Guidelines, which are internationally harmonized and recognized. We are giving credit where it is due, back to the FAO,” said Peter Marshall, CEO of Global Trust.
“Critical parties shouldn’t be surprised at this acceptance as a number of organizations have used the same FAO documents as templates to develop existing or emerging standards. They should understand that the FAOdocument development process was naturally in accordance with the ISEAL guidelines, involving international stakeholders including governments, environmental groups, research, fisheries, standards bodies and through transparent development and approval process involving over 100 countries over a period of many years.”
The news comes at the same time as Alaska’s major salmon processors have decided not to renew Marine Stewardship Council certification, and to instead rely on the Responsible Fisheries Management Certification assessed by Global Trust.
The formal ISO accreditation certificate will be presented to Global Trust in early February so that formal promotions can be established for the International Boston Seafood Show in March, said Global Trust.
