IFFO RS, a marine ingredient certification program used by aquafeed producers to assure customers their products are sustainably sourced, has released its first annual report.
IFFO RS was created in 2009 after being developed by a multi-stakeholder group to address concerns over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the sustainability of reduction fisheries used in the production of fishmeal and fish oil. Since its launch, it has added a chain of custody certification (IFFO RS CoC) and an “improver program” (IFFO RS IP) designed for plants and businesses on the road to full IFFO RS certification.
“IFFO RS has been gaining increased importance in the nutrition value chain over recent years, and 2017 has been a great year of success with enhancements to the certification [program] via standard developments and a defined strategy,” IFFO RS General Manager Francisco Aldon said in a press release. “We are pleased to launch our first annual report, which shows all the efforts put in to provide a platform to drive change and enhance our relevancy in the market.”
According to the report, in 2017, IFFO RS welcomed 11 IFFO RS certified sites and eight IFFO RS CoC certified sites. The program now counts more than 130 plants in 17 countries as participants, producing an estimated 45 percent of the world’s combined production of marine ingredients.
Also in 2017, IFFO RS adopted an updated version of its standard, which include the following new provisions:
- Enhancement of the IFFO RS Approval Criteria for whole fish (mixed and single fisheries) used as raw material in order to promote more responsible fisheries management.
- Introduction of criteria to assess good manufacturing practices in order to increase its relevancy and accessibility to the marine ingredient value chain. Certifications such as GMP+ and FEMAS will continue to be recognized by the new version.
- Promotion and creation of improved social and welfare benefits (taking into account International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention) for all workers employed within the marine ingredients producing factory.
- Developing the standard in order to allow harmonization and recognition within other relevant fisheries and aquaculture standards.
- Expansion and promotion of the further reduction of the environmental impacts in the manufacturing process.
“The launch of version 2 of our IFFO Responsible Supply of Marine Ingredients marks a major new milestone in development of the standard,” IFFO RS Executive Chair of the IFFO RS Governance Board Andrew Jackson said in the report.
IFFO RS announced in March 2018 that Jackson is retiring and will be replaced by Libby Woodhatch, formally the head of advocacy at the United Kingdom’s industry authority, Seafish.
