April 29, 2011
Carrefour launches traceability system for aquaculture products
The Carrefour group has released a system for tracing the origin of fresh and frozen fish produced in captivity, which are marketed in Brazil with the Guarantee of Origin seal, which consumers can now access via the Internet.
The initiative was presented by the head of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA), Ideli Salvatti, who noted that it will be a positive tool for fisheries.
"The seal not only guarantees the origin of a product but also certifies the way it was raised, processed, and marketed," said the Brazilian minister.
"In addition, it lets you set rules for participants throughout the supply chain and supports production and actions aimed at sustainable growth," said Salvatti.
Consumers will be able to know the origin of the fish that they buy and see if they were grown in environmentally sound conditions.
On Carrefour's website, people can also learn about data regarding the processing of fish and the development of fish farming, to the location of the farm, the identification of the refrigerator and veterinarian, among other issues.
In addition to ensuring quality, the company is offering customers a complete assortment of fish with the Guarantee of Origin logo: surubÃ, tilapia, tambaqui, tambacu, matrinxã, sabalo, and pacu.
In the frozen segment, they also included shrimp, oysters, and mussels.
For the Guaranteed Source Program by Carrefour, it is essential that the cultivation of these species is carried out in captivity to help preserve wildlife and the environment in Brazil.
Carrefour emphasises that products bearing the guarantee of origin stamp are more expensive than the rest.
