Saving Seafood

Successful Launch Of GSSI and CGF SSCI’s New Social Benchmarking Scopes

June 1, 2021 — The following was released by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative:

The development of the seafood-specific social benchmark tool by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) and the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) continues to progress. On Thursday, May 27, the virtual launch event was held for the inclusion of the At-Sea Operations Scope (ASO) and Primary Production Scope (PP) into the benchmarking tool. The delivery of these scopes are the result of a 12-month enhancement process led by GSSI and SSCI partners and experts.

Thomas van Haaren and Sairindri Christisabrina of SSCI moderated and facilitated the event, joined by a warm welcome from Richard Smucker of the J.M. Smucker Company and Tony Bruggink from IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative. Insightful knowledge was shared from a dynamic panel of industry experts from GSSI Partners. Speakers included Ahold Delhaize’s Vice President, Hugo Byrnes, Sustainability Director of SeaDelight, Steve Fisher and NovaNam’s Executive Chairman, Miguel Angel Tordersillas.

We are happy to share that the first scheme has already applied to obtain SSCI recognition. With this recognition, schemes prove their ability to meet social sustainability standards for fishing vessel operations and aquaculture activites, as well as work to raise the social compliance bar across the seafood sector. This is exciting news, and we hope to see more applications in the time to come.

Over 70 participants joined the virtual event to gain insight into the processes behind the benchmarking scopes. The event highlighted the value that the social benchmark will add to the seafood sector and how the GSSI-SSCI Collaboration has contributed to this.

GSSI is looking forward to continue addressing the concerns surrounding social standards and labour conditions in the seafood supply chain, together with SSCI. Building on the success of the Global Benchmark Tool, this joint benchmarking tool will allow the seafood industry to have access to a list of recognized social compliance schemes that operate within the sector. GSSI’s expertise in the seafood sector matched with SSCI’s experience in supply chain social compliance makes for a strong and reputable collaboration. This collaboration will help drive market alignment on sustainable seafood production and sourcing worldwide.

Review of the Draft Primary Production Scope

October 14, 2020 — The following was released by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative:

The development of a seafood-specific social benchmark tool by the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) continues.

After a first public consultation on At-Sea Operations criteria over the summer, SSCI launched on September 29, 2020 a 60-day public consultation to review Primary Production criteria. The criteria, developed by industry leaders, experts and stakeholders, cover social and scheme management requirements specifically for third-party social compliance programmes evaluating land-based agricultural and aquaculture activities.

To review the criteria applicability to aquaculture activities, an Aquaculture Expert Panel, comprised of GSSI Partners representatives, was set up by GSSI.

All stakeholders involved in aquaculture value chains are invited to partake in the consultation until December 1, 2020 on the SSCI website where they can view benchmarking documents and leave comments. Feedback can also be emailed to ssci@theconsumergoodsforum.com.

Leave your comments by December 1, 2020. 

Provide your input on the SSCI website, or send your additional comments to ssci@theconsumergoodsforum.com.

GAA seeks SSCI recognition for BAP program

July 13, 2020 — The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has announced it has submitted an application for The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) benchmark for its Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program.

The benchmark application is the first step in achieving SSCI recognition for meeting “industry expectations for third-party social compliance programs,” according to a press release from GAA. The application makes BAP the first certification program to apply, according to GAA.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

MSC establishes new requirements to combat forced and child labor

March 28, 2019 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has announced new requirements designed to address concerns over the use of forced and child labor in the seafood industry.

Introduced as part of an update made to the MSC’s Chain of Custody Standard, the new rules require all MSC certificate-holders to undergo an audit of their labor practices and policies, with the exception of companies that show they are at lower risk of employing child or forced labor.

“Forced and child labor is an industry-wide issue with no quick or easy solution. The new measures are part of a series of updates to both the MSC Chain of Custody Standard and MSC Fisheries Standard to address forced labor in the seafood industry,” MSC said in a press release. “The new labor requirements are part of the wider changes to the MSC Chain of Custody Standard to improve clarity, accessibility, and integrity where necessary.”

The audit requirement will come into effect on 28 September, 2019, with companies given a 12-month grace period to implement a labor audit, according to MSC. The on-site audits now required by MSC must be carried out an independent third-party social auditor using of three labor audit programs recognized by the MSC: the Amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative audit; the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA), or the SA8000 Certification from Social Accountability International. The MSC also said it planned to recognize other labor programs that gain acceptance from the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI).

Read the full story at Seafood Source

GSSI working to benchmark social compliance; welcomes new members

May 18, 2018 — The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) is collaborating with the Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative in order to create a benchmark and recognition tool for social compliance schemes in the global seafood sector.

The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) provides auditing and certification of sustainability criteria, with a focus on social issues. It is operated by the Consumer Goods Forum, an industry network encouraging the global adoption of practices and standards for the production of consumer goods.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with the CGF’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative on such an important initiative for the industry. Addressing social compliance has long been on the horizon for GSSI and to do this now with the CGF will deliver great value to the seafood industry,” GSSI Managing Director Herman Wisse said. “Utilizing GSSI’s global partnership to support the development of the SSCI Benchmark Tool for social compliance schemes brings us one step closer to our vision of more sustainable seafood for everyone.”

Read the full story at Seafood Source