MarinTrust is aware of the existence of a wide variety of other fishery and factory Standards and Benchmark Tools. Our recognition procedure, effective as of 1st May 2024, outlines the process by which equivalence can be determined.  

By enabling the recognition of other Standards or Benchmark Tools, we are able to:

  • reduce unnecessary assessment and/or audit duplication
  • reduce the audit duration for certificate holders and applicants
  • reduce cost for certificate holders and applicants
  • ensure increase market access for Marine ingredients
  • ultimately, this increases the availability of responsibly sourced and produced marine ingredients

Process

MarinTrust outlines the process and methodology to be implemented for Standard / Benchmark Tool requirements to be recognised.

As part of this process, as well as assessing the equivalnce of Standard and Benchmark Tools against is own requiremenst, it must be determined that the Standard or Benchmark Tool Owner is credible, robust, and relevant. An important step to safeguard the integrity and assurance of the MarinTrust Programme. 

Key stages include:

  • Stage 1 - Initiation of recognition of equivalence process
  • Stage 2 -  Self-assessment
  • Stage 3 - Third-party equivalency assessment
  • Stage 4 - Recognition decision and update of documentation

Further information on what these stages entail is outlined below.

Stage 1: Initiation of recognition of equivalence process

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Equivalence determination can be initiated by:

  • MarinTrust
  • Relevant stakeholders
  • Standard owners
  • Benchmark Tool owners

Where MarinTrust is not the initiator of the equivalence determination the Standard / Benchmark Tool owner must contact MarinTrust to notify their intent.

Stage 2: Self-assessment

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The Standard / Benchmark Tool owner conducts self-assessment and shares this with MarinTrust, and pay any relevant process fees. Once submitted, an approved third-party conducts a review and offers recommendation  to MarinTrust. 

This recommendation is then shared with the Standard / Benchmark Tool owner. 

Note: Standard / Benchmark Tool owners will only proceed to Stage 3 provided the self-assessment outcome is 'recognition process recommended'.

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Stage 3: Third party equivalency assessment

The Third-party conducts the equivlancy assessment and shares a draft report with the Srandard / Benchmarl Tools owner, opening a 2-week comment period. Feedback from the owner is consdiered by the Third-party, and the equivalancy report and recommendation is finalised and submitted to MarinTrust.  

Stage 4: Recognition decision and update of documentation

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As part of a peer review process, findings and recommendation outcome is presented to the relevant MarinTrust governance committee for discussion and recommendation to theGoverning Body Committee (GBC).

These findings and the recommendations are put forward for approval by the GBC for approval. 

Note: The GBC shall have sole authority on the decision, and the decision shall be final. 

Where recognition is successful, MarinTrust will publish the equivalency report on the MarinTrust website and update all relevant information.

 

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What happens after achieving recognition?

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Maintenance and review of equivalence status  

Following successful recognition, Standard / Benchmark Tool owners will be required to maintain the equivalence status through a process of periodic review.

For further detailed information, please refer to Recognition of equivalence procedure.

Programmes/Standards currently recognised  

Four Standards are formally recognised under the MarinTrust Programme:

  • Programa de Aseguramiento de la Calidad (Chilean PAC)
  • Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard (version 2.1, 2018)
  • GMP+ B2 Production of Feed Ingredients Standard
  • Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS) Version 2.1)

Note: These Standards are currently recognised under MarinTrust Standard Version 2.

Further information regarding the recognition held by the Programmes/Standards can be found below.  

Read our transition guidance for further details and reach out to us if you have any questions ([email protected]).

Programa de Aseguramiento de la Calidad (PAC)

Chilean PAC was formally recognised  under MarinTrust Programme in 2019. The Chilean PAC was benchmarked against Section 3.2 of the MarinTrust Standard to determine the Extent of Equivalence in August 2019. The outcome of the benchmark exercise showed that factories certified to the Chilean PAC can be considered to have met requirements equivalent to almost all of those set out in the Section 3.2 of the factory clauses of MarinTrust Standard. 

The annual summary of changes submitted by Chilean PAC in 2022  showed  substantial changes to the Section 3.2 of the factory clauses , therefore, a full review of equivalency was required for the Chilean PAC to determine if recognition should be maintained. Following the full review of equivalency (refer to Chilean PAC recognition Summary 2022) , MarinTrust submitted to the Governing Body Committee (GBC) the approval recommendation for the continued recognition of the Chilean PAC on 4th October 2022. The GBC agreed with the recommendation and the Chilean PAC is formally recognised.

Below diagram provides a visual overview of the level of equivalency of Chilean PAC to MarinTrust factory standard:

Chilean PAC

 

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard Version 2.0 was formally recognised under the MarinTrust Programme in January 2021.  The MSC Fisheries Standard version 2.0 was benchmarked against the MarinTrust whole fish fishery assessment requirements V 2.0.

The results of the benchmark exercise demonstrated that MSC Fishery Standard is equivalent to the requirements of the MarinTrust fishery assessment V 2.0.

MarinTrust therefore offered a formal recognition of  MSC certified fisheries depending on:

  • the raw material type. 
  • MSC claim held by the facility.

How we handle MSC recognition

Step 1

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The applicant or certificate holder informs MarinTrust (via application form or scope extension) about their intention to use raw material (wild caught whole fish and/or by-product) sourced from an MSC-certified fishery.

Step 2:

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MarinTrust carries out various checks to verify if the raw material is from an MSC-certified fishery and within MarinTrust certification scope.

Where the applicant/certificate holder submits an MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificate, MarinTrust will do checks to confirm:

  • the certificate is for the facility
  • the certificate for the facility is valid
  • the species listed on the certificate match the application form

Step 3: Following the checks, where it is confirmed that:

  • The raw material comes from an MSC-certified fishery within the MarinTrust certification scope and has a valid MSC CoC certificate, then the raw material will be automatically recognised.
  • The raw material is MSC-certified within the MarinTrust certification scope but does not have a valid MSC CoC certificate, the raw material is required to undergo MarinTrust verification and will be recognised provided the verification outcome is 'pass'.
  • The raw material is not from an MSC-certified fishery within MarinTrust certification scope and has no valid MSC CoC certificate, the raw material is required to undergo MarinTrust assessment against the MarinTrust fishery or by-product assessment criteria.

For further information about MarinTrust MSC verification process, please click here.

Changes to status of MSC certified material

The status of a fishery and/or by-product can change at any time and this includes MSC-certified material which is within MarinTrust certification scope. 

Withdrawn MSC-certified raw material

If the recognised MSC-certified fishery loses its certification, then any raw material from that fishery will lose its MarinTrust recognition and will be required to undergo a MarinTrust assessment for it to be considered as MarinTrust approved raw material.

Suspended MSC-certified raw material

Suspension of MSC fisheries can either be :

  • Full suspension or
  • Partial suspension

For full suspension of the MSC certificate, the recognised raw material will automatically lose it's MarinTrust recognition and and will undergo a full MarinTrust assessment for it to be considered as MarinTrust approved material.

For partial suspension, e.g. one or more Units of Certification are suspended in the MSC certificate,  the applicant/certificate holder is required to:

  • Check which  raw material species are affected.
  • Ensure appropriate segregation is in place to avoid the use of any suspended raw material.

Any species which is not affected by the partial suspension can retain the MarinTrust recognition and the facility can continue to use those species.

Species affected by the partial suspension will automatically lose its recognition and will be required to undergo a full MarinTrust assessment for it to be considered as MarinTrust approved raw material.

Note: Where a certificate holder or applicant requests a MarinTrust assessment for a raw material which has lost its MarinTrust recognition, there is no guarantee that the fishery/by-product will be approved.

Key responsibilities 

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Applicant  or certificate holder using recognised MSC-certified raw material is required to:

  • Notify their chosen Certification Body and MarinTrust of any changes to the certificate status of the MSC-certified fishery including suspension and withdrawal of a Unit of Certification or the certificate.
  • Confirm if the suspension of a raw material is either a partial or full suspension.
  • Ensure appropriate segregation is in place to prevent the use of any suspended and/or withdrawn raw materials.