Dutch based global certification services provider, Control Union, has acquired a minority shareholding in MacAlister Elliott & Partners Ltd (MEP) and ME Certification Ltd (MEC).
The new partnership will see all three companies working together to offer global services in fisheries and aquaculture and will enhance Control Union’s presence in these sectors. The agreement will also pave the way for Control Union to acquire a full shareholding within five years.
Control Union is already established in certification programmes in agriculture, food, feed, forest products, textiles and bio energy. The new partnership with MEP/MEC will now provide it with a firm foothold in the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification programme, as well as bolster its presence in Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification.
Johan Maris, certification director for Control Union, said, “We are delighted to be forming this partnership with MEP and MEC. This will strengthen the position of all entities involved and will help bring MEP and MEC’s vast experience and technical knowledge within the fisheries and aquaculture sector to our existing customer base and beyond.”
Under the agreement, the management team at MEP/MEC will remain unchanged and will continue to be based in Lymington, England.
The new agreement will be officially signed at next week’s Seafood Expo Global in Brussels from 26-28 April. Both companies will be presenting at stands 4-5810 (Control Union) and 6-846 (MEP/MEC).
