The IFFO RS Governance Board has ratified a proposal to review and enhance the IFFO RS program through the development of ‘Version 2.0’. The IFFO RS certification process includes two key components: the fishery assessment, and the factory assessment. The development of Version 2.0 includes a thorough review of both, and these (excluding the new Mixed Fishery Criteria) are ready for Public Consultation for a period of 60 days beginning January 16th 2017.
To continue with this key next stage in the development of Version 2.0, IFFO RS Ltd. has produced a draft of the revised full standard that consists of the fishery assessment methodology, fishery and factory assessment criteria (excluding Mixed Fishery Criteria). A public consultation feedback submission form (excel format) has been developed in order to provide a user friendly way for stakeholders and other interested parties to provide input on the development. The purpose of this public consultation is to obtain input from a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties on the proposed standard and to inform about the continuing development of Version 2.0.
Many of the proposed changes for Version 2.0 are with regards to the fishery assessment methodology that aims to facilitate the assessment by improving the Standard’s consistency and ability to tackle fisheries with multiple species, or which have lower levels of information available; the addition of Good Manufacturing Practice clauses and revised social and environmental criteria into the factory audit. It is hoped that Version 2.0 will promote more responsible management in such fisheries and ultimately further reduce the environmental impact of the fishmeal and fish oil manufacturing process.
“We consider stakeholder involvement as very important for the development and credibility of the IFFO RS Certification Program,” explained Dr Andrew Jackson, Chairman of the IFFO RS Governance Board. “We would therefore welcome and encourage any comments or feedback regarding the revised fishery assessment criteria and the proposed factory audit criteria which include sections on Good Manufacturing Practice and a number of fundamental social and environmental aspects. We look forward to launching IFFO RS V2 and continuing to promote more responsible fisheries management and marine ingredient production practices.”
