Seiyu, GK, part of Walmart Inc., has become the first retailer in Japan to introduce the Global Aquaculture Alliance''s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification to its product line.
In addition to the BAP certification – for its Salad Shrimp – the company is expanding third-party certified seafood products, introducing ten MSC and ASC certified products. The initiative was supported by Seafood Legacy Co., a consulting firm based in Tokyo that specialises in sustainable seafood.
Ning Gu, chief ethics & compliance officer of Seiyu, GK, who manages Seiyu’s sustainability initiatives said that Walmart was promoting sustainable sourcing. “Walmart Japan/Seiyu is also promoting to increase sustainable seafood products as one of the strategies of our seafood department,” she said. “This is just a first step we are taking in this area, but we hope that this would be a good opportunity for our customers in Japan to learn about sustainable seafood and to purchase our sustainable products first-hand.”
Seiyu is committed to providing food products that adhere to higher standards of safety, sustainability, and affordability. With the global seafood industry facing issues of resource conservation and social and environmental responsibility, Seiyu decided to expand its range of seafood products with BAP and other certifications such as MSC and ASC.
“Sustainable seafood sourcing practices are critical to assure the future supply of seafood and nowhere is this more important than Japan, a nation with a long, established seafood culture,” said Steve Hart, vice president Asia Market Development of Global Aquaculture Alliance.
