GAA, ASC, GLOBALG.A.P. Pilot Combined Audit Checklists
The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and GLOBALG.A.P. on April 22 took a significant step forward in executing their memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Seafood Expo Global (SEG) in Brussels, Belgium, on April 22.
The three standards-setting organizations — which are working collaboratively to increase efficiency and reduce duplication in the auditing process — agreed to combined checklists for farms pursuing more than one certificate.
A combined checklist minimizes duplication of audit points between certification programs and comprises all audit points of one standard supplemented by specific add-on clauses for other standard(s). A farm pursuing multiple certifications can select any one of the three programs as the primary standard and then select the desired add-ons.
Click here to read the joint statement from GAA, ASC and GLOBALG.A.P.
Pictured from left to right are ASC CEO Chris Ninnes, GAA CFO Jeff Fort and GLOBALG.A.P. Chairman Guy Callebaut. The three participated in a brief ceremony at the Brussels Exhibition Centre along with Dan Lee, standards coordinator for GAA’s Best Aquaculture Practices division, and other ASC and GLOBALG.A.P. representatives.
By signing the MoU at SEG exactly two years ago today, the three organizations recognizes that by working together they can more effectively promote environmentally and socially responsible seafood farming and processing. The goal of the MoU is to make certification more accessible and create greater value to a greater number of farmers and processors.
About GAA
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is an international, non-profit trade association dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture. Through the development of its Best Aquaculture Practices certification standards, GAA has become the leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood.
