The Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) board of directors has agreed to open up its Global Standard for Responsible Supply (IFFO RS) to non-IFFO members. Any fishmeal and fish oil factory that can demonstrate its responsible practices will be able to apply for certification to the IFFO RS standard. This should ensure the continued growth of the standard and bring it in line with the recognized best practice for standard setting.
IFFO RS was launched in 2009 and is the most recognized standard for the responsible supply of fishmeal and fish oil with around 40% of world production certified.
The RS Board also plans to appoint at least one additional certification body to conduct factory certification. SAI Global is the only certification body with the authority to grant certification to the RS standard.
To help applicants demonstrate good standards of environmental and social practices, the RS Board will add several clauses to the IFFO RS factory standard in these areas. A proposed draft is available on the IFFO RS website.
“The IFFO RS standard has got off to an excellent start, but the board felt that the time had come to widen the ambition of the standard to address the whole global marine ingredients industry,” said Andrew Jackson, chairman of IFFO RS Board. “The decision to allow non-IFFO members to apply for the standard gives the factories processing the over 40% of global production not coming from IFFO members the opportunity to demonstrate their responsible practices.”