November 10, 2020

 

GAA delivers inclusive audit solutions for BAP customers

 

 

The Global Aquaculture Alliance's Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification programme is rolling out remote auditing for the Seafood Processing Standard, Version 5.0 (SPS 5.0).

 

Processing plants now have a pathway to accredited certification through three audit opportunities: onsite audits (full or partial), full remote audits or enhanced remote audits.

 

To mitigate the supply chain and facility certification disruptions brought on by COVID-19, GAA cooperated with accreditation bodies (ABs) and collaborated with certification bodies (CBs), starting in April, to develop accredited remote auditing procedures for its seafood supply chain standards.

 

Beyond the remote audit methodology applied for the farm, hatchery and feed mill standards, specific new policies, procedures, requirements, timelines, questionnaires, audit checklist guidance and training materials were also developed specifically for processing plant remote auditing.

 

Risk assessments

 

A facility risk assessment, done by a CB, identifies if an onsite audit is not possible due to COVID-19 restrictions. Qualifying facilities will then be offered a remote audit solution, with a further six months extension that could be given to complete the 2020 certification of all facility types, if needed.

 

Onsite audits

 

In addition to a full on-site audit, GAA now offers a blended or partial, solution for on-site auditing in facilities that can accept on-site scrutiny of a BAP auditor. This blended audit approach incorporates limited information and communications technology (ICT) usage, combined with onsite visitation by the lead auditor. This may be a good fit for processing facilities that require Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarking.

 

Full remote audits

 

As of October 2, 2020, BAP has conducted 324 remote audits (214 farms, 68 hatcheries, 36 feed mills and six processing plant pilot projects), the majority of which were done in Southeast Asia, Latin America and North America. Processing plant pilot projects have ramped up in October with the rollout of the SPS 5.0 remote auditing. 

 

Enhanced remote audits

 

This audit solution is designed for higher risk facilities that require a more robust remote audit scrutiny across all standards. New facilities to the BAP programme (without previous certification experience or owned by entities with such), or sites with a problematic history (that have completed appropriate mitigation measures) will be offered an enhanced remote audit option to mitigate the increased risk.

 

- GAA