Marine ingredient production programme MarinTrust has kicked off an open public consultation on the revision of its Factory Standard.
The 60-day public consultation for Version 3 of the MarinTrust Factory Standard will run to 3 July 2023. Feedback will be taken into account before the launch of Version 3 of the factory Standard, due to take place in October 2023.
MarinTrust said the revision aims to increase accessibility for responsibly sourced and produced marine ingredients and encourage the use of by-products. It will also lay the foundations towards fully-traceable marine ingredients and progress the standard’s focus on environmental and social impacts, both at the factory and on the vessels supplying whole fish.
“Each year, around 6 million tonnes of marine ingredients, mostly fishmeal and fish oil, are produced globally, half of which are, to date, certified against the MarinTrust Standard. Our ambition is that marine ingredients are recognised as the best and most important source of animal and human nutrition,” MarinTrust Executive Chair Libby Woodhatch said.
“We want the marine ingredients value chain to be able to rely on standardised data both on environmental and social performance and to progress the use of 100% of fish. In order to get there, we need to strengthen the standard’s risk assessment criteria and management controls for both whole fish and by-products. I invite everyone to share their views so we continue to deliver a high level of assurance.”
The consultation comes towards the end of a development process that started in 2018, which included pilot assessments and feedback from key marine ingredient stakeholders to enhance the consistency and efficiency of audits.
“From Peru to Chile to Thailand to South Africa to Iceland, marine ingredient producers underwent two-day pilots assessments to put the draft Version 3 through its paces. Meanwhile, companies in Denmark, Peru and Chile carried out self-assessments to home in on any parts of the standard which needed clarifying and polishing”, MarinTrust CEO Francisco Aldon said.
The process has been overseen by MarinTrust’s multi-stakeholder Governing Body Committee.
