New, version three of MarinTrust’s Factory Standard has been released, with the standard becoming effective on 1 May 2024.
The new version lays foundations towards fully-traceable marine ingredients and progresses the focus on environmental and social impacts, both at the factory and on the vessels supplying whole fish. It also aims to increase accessibility for responsibly sourced and produced marine ingredients and encourage the use of by-products.
MarinTrust Executive Chair Libby Woodhatch said the revised standard has come towards the end of a rigorous, long-term development process, which was closely overseen by MarinTrust’s multi-stakeholder Governing Body Committee.
“It included pilot assessments across the world and feedback from key marine ingredient stakeholders to enhance the consistency and robustness of audits. A 60-day public consultation, from 4 May to 3 July 2023, resulted in a public report and provided 22 responses from a wide group of stakeholders all over the world,” Woodhatch said.
From 1 May 2024, all sites applying for a MarinTrust certification or a certification renewal will have to comply with the updated requirements, MarinTrust CEO Francisco Aldon said.
“As for the sites already certified against the MarinTrust Factory Standard, 1 May 2024 marks the start of a year-long transition period, allowing for adjustments to be made by every factory until 1 May 2025,” he said.
