Thursday, July 14, 2016

14/07/2016: HEMA commits to certified seafood

Dutch retailer HEMA has earned ASC Chain of Custody certification, and is now able to sell seafood from ASC certified farms using the ASC logo in their stores in the Netherlands.
     
HEMA's current seafood offerings include ASC certified pangasius fillets and the company has committed to expanding the variety of responsibly certified species available to shoppers in the future.
    
The ASC programme is comprised of two components. The ASC Farm Certification and Accreditation is a strict set of standards that ensures seafood is produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner at the source. Retailers and distributors can only use the ASC logo once they become ASC Chain of Custody (CoC) certified. 
     
The certification allows retailers to make a credible claim regarding the origin of the responsibly produced seafood they are offering and ensures that the product is fully traceable and, when necessary, segregated from non-certified seafood across the supply chain.
    
http://www.asc-aqua.org/index.cfm?lng=1
HEMA's pangasius fillets are ASC certified (Image: Vince Smith)
Comprehensive environmental improvement efforts
HEMA has committed to several different certification programmes to ensure that the company offers its customers environmentally and ethically responsible products in multiple categories.
     
In addition to gaining ASC certification, HEMA sells sustainably caught fish through the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification scheme. HEMA has also committed to using UTZ certified chocolate and coffee, Fairtrade tea, and paper and wood from Forest Stewardship Council and Rainforest Alliance certified forests.
    
ASC takes top scores in head to head comparison of seafood labels
HEMA is just one of many retailers in the Netherlands and around the world to commit to selling ASC seafood. Demand for the programme is increasing just as recognition for the ASC from independent agencies is growing.
 
Newly released research by Dutch NGO Mileu Centraal studied and rated seafood labels, including ASC, on their performance in three categories-ambition for sustainability, transparency and trustworthiness - to ascertain the efficacy and impact of various certification schemes. 
    
The ASC took top marks for the overall scheme and achieved the highest scores in applicable individual categories corresponding to strength of environmental assessments, fair trading and social aspects for workers at the farm level, and the assessment process.

Visit the ASC site HERE.


The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

No comments:

Post a Comment