Multi-site certification methodology is out for public consultation

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has launched a 30-day public consultation for multi-site certification methodology.

Stakeholders are invited to have their say during a public comment period that runs between 1 February 2016 and 4 March 2016.

All comments will be considered before the launch of the new methodology in the second quarter of this year.

Increased efficiency and safeguarded credibility

The multi-site methodology was developed to enable companies owning five to 50 sites within the same jurisdiction to achieve certification for all locations in one go.

To qualify for multi-site certification, the organisation must have a central office managing the sites’ compliance with the ASC standard through a documented management system. A number of samples will be selected and audited by Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) using risk-assessment in combination with a random sampling approach.

The goal is to achieve the maximum level of assurance that is credible yet affordable, applied consistently across different farms and CABs. With this approach efficiency for both farms and the ASC will increase significantly.

Multi-site is different from group certification. Each methodology has its own set of requirements. Public comment period for group certification will take place separately within quarter one 2016.

Have your say:

Visit the ASC website to submit your comments and email back to ASC at: standards@asc-aqua.org.