Industry asked to provide feedback on next iteration of RFS during 60-day public consultation

Stakeholders across the seafood industry are being asked to respond to a 60-day public consultation launched today (Thursday 15 August) by providing feedback on the draft standard criteria for the next iteration of the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), to be called the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS).

The RFVS standard criteria have been released by Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry, and Global Seafood Assurances (GSA), a not-for-profit organisation seeking to offer full supply chain assurance for wild and farmed seafood in partnership with existing providers. The two organisations are working together to develop the RFVS, which will build on the strong foundations established by the RFS to create a globally applicable standard able to provide assurance of decent working conditions and operational best practice on board fishing vessels, from the catch to the quay. The revised draft standard criteria were informed by the objectives outlined in the Terms of Reference, established in response to extensive feedback received during an initial consultation in 2018 and published earlier this year.

The overarching goals of the development process are to create a standard which:

• Continues to meet the UK seafood sector supply chain assurance requirements, both for products sourced within the UK and beyond;
• Is capable of meeting international supply chain assurance requirements;
• Is internationally credible, third-party assessed and has a certification model aligned to the requirements of ISO 17065; and
• Has the ability to deliver a streamlined certification process.

Click here to read more and take part in the consultation