May 15, 2008

IFFO develops new Code of Responsible Practice
 

The International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation (IFFO) have developed a new Code of Responsible Practice (CORP), which will permit makers to show that they are offering traceable, high-quality marine products made using fish from responsibly managed fisheries.

The new Code was announced at IFFO's recent meeting in Brussels. Final approval of the CORP will be done at the IFFO Board's annual conference in October.

Producers should be able to enter the audit process in early 2009.

According to IFFO Director General Jonathan Shepherd, CORP is a step further in defining and bringing together IFFO's high standards.

Compliance will be third-party audited in conjunction with established audits for existing quality systems - such as HACCP, FEMAS, PDV and GMP to ensure food safety.

A company that wants to be CORP-accredited should be able to show that its facilities are managed to prevent accidental or deliberate contamination of the products.

Raw material sources must be in a country that complies with the key elements of the FAO Code of Responsible Fishing and the manufacturing company will also need to prove that their source fisheries fully comply with all national laws on capture.