Return to Today, at an event gathering representatives of the marine ingredients value chain, MarinTrust released the new version of its Factory Standard (Version 3, aka V3).
(photo of MarinTrust Team)
This new version lays the foundations towards fully traceable marine ingredients and progresses the Standard's focus on environmental and social impacts, both at the factory and on the vessels supplying whole fish. It also aims to increase accessibility for responsibly sourced and produced marine ingredients and encourage the use of by-products.
Multistakeholder engagement to assure credibility
Libby Woodhatch, Executive Chair of MarinTrust, says: “This version comes towards the end of a rigorous, long term development process, closely overseen by MarinTrust’s multi-stakeholder Governing Body Committee. It included pilot assessments across the world and feedback from key marine ingredient stakeholders to enhance the consistency and robustness of audits. A 60-day public consultation, from 4th May to 3rd July 2023, resulted in a public report and provided 22 responses from a wide group of stakeholders all over the world”.
Transition period
“The Factory Standard’s new version will be effective on 1st May 2024”, stated Francisco Aldon, CEO of MarinTrust. “This date marks the day when all sites applying for a MarinTrust certification or a certification renewal will have to comply with the updated requirements. As for the sites already certified against the MarinTrust Factory Standard, 1st May 2024 marks the start of a year-long transition period, allowing for adjustments to be made by every factory until 1st May 2025”.
A summary of the full event announcing the release of the new version of the Factory Standard is available here.