Retail giant Walmart has approved a third-party seafood certification programme to monitor its supplier’s commitment to worker dignity and safety in order to fulfil its own responsible sourcing audits.
The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification, developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance, is currently the only seafood-specific certification programme approved by the retailer.
“Social accountability is a fundamental pillar of responsible aquaculture and GAA is proud to be uniquely recognised within the seafood certification arena for developing such credible and comprehensive standards,” said George Chamberlain, president of the GAA.
In a 30 June notice to its suppliers, Walmart announced that it is simplifying its Responsible Sourcing programme to focus its resources on areas that make the greatest difference for workers in its supply chain.
For more than a year, BAP has been working with Walmart to ensure that the standards’ social component meets Walmart’s expectations.
The GAA said is committed to promoting social responsibility through its BAP programme.
The BAP standards also address wages and other terms of employment as well as the use of forced and child labour.
GAA is about to launch training modules on social accountability through its online learning platform, which were created in conjunction with labour-rights authority Birgitte Kough-Poulsen, a member of GAA’s Standards Oversight Committee (SOC).
