June 28, 2017
BAP Farm Standards in alignment with GSSI's components
The Global Aquaculture Alliance's Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party aquaculture certification programme is one step closer to being recognised by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).
The process began in December 2015 when BAP applied for GSSI recognition, the first of a seven-step process to determine whether the BAP Finfish and Crustacean Farm Standards and BAP Salmon Farm Standards are in alignment with all "Essential Components" of the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool.
On June 23, the GSSI Benchmark Report was published, triggering a 30-day public consultation in which stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments for consideration.
The GSSI Benchmark Committee then provides the GSSI Steering Board with a final recommendation on recognition, and all comments and responses will be made public after the Steering Board's final decision on recognition.
BAP is the world's first third-party aquaculture certification programme to enter into public consultation, the division of Global Aquaculture Alliance claimed.
BAP Standards coordinator Dan Lee said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Independent Experts and the Benchmark Committee have found BAP to be in alignment with all GSSI Essential Components. This is a major step forward for independent recognition of the BAP program."
GSSI's Global Benchmark Tool, launched in October 2015, was developed over a three-year multi-stakeholder process involving environmental NGOs, businesses, independent experts, governmental, and intergovernmental organisations, alongside two public consultations and a pilot test.
- BAP
