Minimum Substantive Requirements

MINIMUM SUBSTANTIVE CRITERIA

 18. Minimum substantive criteria for developing aquaculture certification standards are provided in this section for a) animal health and welfare; b) food safety; c) environmental integrity; and d) socio-economic aspects. The extent to which a certification scheme seeks to address the issues depends on the objectives of the scheme, which should be explicitly and transparently stated by the scheme. Development of certification schemes should consider the importance of being able to measure performance of aquaculture systems and practices, and the ability to assess conformity with certification standards.

Animal health and welfare {For  the  purpose  of  these  guidelines,  reference  to  animal  welfare  applies  only  insofar as it affects animal health consistent with current and future OIE standards.}

19. Aquaculture activities should be conducted in a manner that assures the health and welfare of farmed aquatic animals, by optimizing health through 1minimizing stress, 2reducing aquatic animal disease risks and 3maintaining a healthy culture environment at all phases of the production cycle. Guidelines and standards set by OIE [Office International des Epizooties - World Organisation for Animal Health] should be the specific normative basis.

Minimum substantive criteria for addressing aquatic animal health and welfare in aquaculture certification schemes:

20. Aquaculture operations should implement aquatic animal health management programmes set up in 4compliance with relevant national legislation and regulations, taking into account the FAO CCRF [Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries] Technical Guidelines on Health Management for Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals and relevant OIE standards.

21. 5Movement of aquatic animals, animal genetic material and animal products should take place in accordance with the relevant provisions in the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code to 2prevent introduction or transfer of diseases and infectious agents pathogenic to aquatic animals while 6avoiding unwarranted sanitary measures.

22. 3A culture environment should be maintained at all phases of the production cycle adapted to the species raised, to 1,2benefit aquatic animal health and welfare, and 2reduce the risks of introduction and spread of aquatic animal diseases. In particular, by

●       2allowing for quarantining of stock where appropriate;

●       7routine monitoring of stock and environmental conditions for early detection of aquatic animal health problems; and

●       implementation of management practices that 3reduce the likelihood of disease transmission 5within and between aquaculture facilities and natural aquatic fauna, and 1reduce stress on animals for the purpose of optimizing health.

23. 6Veterinary medicines should be used in a responsible manner and 4in accordance with applicable national legislation or relevant international agreements that ensure effectiveness, safety of public and animal health, and protection of the environment.

24. 3Use of species in polyculture or integrated multitrophic aquaculture should be carefully considered in order to 2reduce potential disease transmission between cultured species.

25. Aquaculture animals should be 3kept under farming conditions suitable for the species concerned, in particular taking into account water temperature and quality.

26. 8Workers should be trained on good aquatic animal health and welfare management practices to ensure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities in maintaining aquatic animal health and welfare in aquaculture.

Food safety

27. Aquaculture activities should be conducted in a manner that ensures food safety by 4implementing appropriate national or international standards and regulations including those defined by FAO/WHO [World Health Organization] Codex Alimentarius. Although Codex Alimentarius covers both safety and quality issues concerning aquatic products, for the purpose of these guidelines, quality aspects are not currently addressed in detail.

Minimum substantive criteria for addressing food safety in aquaculture certification schemes:

28. 9Aquaculture facilities should be located in areas where the risk of contamination is minimized and where sources of pollution can be controlled or mitigated.

29. Where feed is used, aquaculture operations should 10include procedures for avoiding feed contamination 4in compliance with national regulations or as determined by internationally agreed standards. Aquaculture operations should use feeds and feed ingredients which do not contain unsafe levels of pesticides, biological, chemical and physical contaminants and/or other adulterated substances. 4,10Feed which is manufactured or prepared on the farm should contain only substances permitted by the national competent authorities.

30. 6All veterinary drugs and chemicals for use in aquaculture shall 4comply with national regulations, as well as international guidelines. Wherever applicable, veterinary drugs and chemicals should be registered with the competent national authority. Veterinary drugs should be scheduled (classified). 6Control of diseases with veterinary drugs and antimicrobials should be carried out only on the basis of an accurate diagnosis and knowledge that the drug is effective for control or treatment of a specific disease. In some classifications, 4veterinary drugs may only be prescribed and distributed by personnel authorized under national regulations. All veterinary drugs and chemicals or medicated feeds should be used according to the instructions of the manufacturer or other competent authority, with particular attention to withdrawal periods. 4Banned non-registered and/or non-permitted antimicrobial agents, veterinary drugs and/or chemicals must not be used in aquaculture production, transportation or product processing. 6Prophylactic use of veterinary medicinal products, particularly antimicrobial agents {Antimicrobial agents do not include vaccines.}, should not take place.

31. 11Water used for aquaculture should be of a quality suitable for the production of food which is safe for human consumption. Wastewater should not be used in aquaculture. If wastewater is used, the WHO guidelines for the safe use of wastewater and excreta in aquaculture should be followed.

32. The 5source of broodstock and seed for culture (larvae, post-larvae, fry and fingerling, etc.) should be such to reduce the risk of carryover of potential human health hazards (e.g. antibiotics, parasites, etc.) into the growing stocks.

33. 12Traceability and record-keeping of farming activities and inputs which impact food safety should be ensured by documenting, inter alia:

●       5,6,10the source of inputs such as feed, seed, veterinary drugs and antibacterials, additives, chemicals; and

●       6type, concentration, dosage, method of administration and withdrawal times of chemicals, veterinary drugs and antibacterials and the rationale for their use.

34. Aquaculture facilities and operations should 3maintain good culture and hygienic conditions, including:

●       Good hygiene practices in the farm surroundings should be applied aiming at 11minimizing contamination of growing water, particularly from waste materials or faecal matter from animals or humans.

●       Good Aquaculture Practices should be applied during culture to 3ensure good hygienic culture conditions and safety and quality of aquaculture produce.

●       10Farms should institute a pest control programme, so that rodents, birds and other wild and domesticated animals are controlled, especially around feed storage areas.

●       10Farm grounds should be well maintained to reduce or eliminate food and feed safety hazards.

●       5Appropriate techniques for harvesting, storing and transportation of aquaculture products should be applied to 9,11minimize contamination and physical damage.

35. 7Identification, classification, integrated management and monitoring programmes should be implemented in bivalve molluscs growing areas to 9prevent microbiological, chemical and reduce biotoxin contamination. 10Relaying and depuration of bivalve molluscs to remove microbial contamination should be carried in accordance with the requirements of the Codex.

36. 8Workers should be trained in good hygienic practices to ensure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities for 10protecting aquaculture products from contamination and deterioration.

Environmental integrity

37. Aquaculture should be planned and practised in an environmentally responsible manner, 4in accordance with appropriate local, national and international laws and regulations.

38. Aquaculture certification schemes should 13encourage restoration of habitats and sites damaged by previous uses in aquaculture.

39. Aquaculture can impact on the environment and aquaculture certification schemes should 14ensure these impacts are identified and 15adverse impacts are managed or mitigated 16to an acceptable level 4in accordance with local and national laws. Whenever possible, native species should be used for culture and measures should be taken to 5minimize unintentional release or escape of cultured species into natural environments.

40. Management practices that address environmental impacts of aquaculture differ substantially for different types of scale of aquaculture and for different aquaculture farming systems. Certification schemes should not be overly prescriptive, but set 16measurable benchmarks that encourage improvement and innovation in environmental performance of aquaculture.

41. Certification schemes may consider 17application of the “precautionary approach” in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

42. In 17undertaking risk analysis, risks should be addressed through a suitable 18scientific method of assessing the likelihood of events and the magnitude of impacts, and 17take into account relevant uncertainties. 16Appropriate reference points should be determined and 19remedial actions taken if reference points are approached or exceeded.

43. Certification schemes should endeavour to promote the 20internalization of environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting international trade and investment {Based on Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, June 1992.}.

Minimum substantive criteria for addressing environmental integrity in aquaculture certification schemes:

44. 14Environmental impact assessments should be conducted, 4according to national legislation, prior to approval of establishment of aquaculture operations.

45. 7Regular monitoring of on-farm and off-farm environmental quality should be carried out, combined with 12good record-keeping and use of appropriate methodologies.

46. 14; 15Evaluation and mitigation of the adverse impacts on surrounding natural ecosystems, including fauna, flora and habitats should be carried out.

47. Measures should be adopted to promote efficient water management and use, as well as 21proper masnagement [sic] of effluents to reduce impacts on surrounding land, and water resources should be adopted.

48. 5Where possible, hatchery produced seed should be used for culture. When wild seeds are used, they should be collected using responsible practices.

49. 5Exotic species are to be used only when they pose an acceptable level of risk to the natural environment, biodiversity and ecosystem health.

50. With reference to paragraph 9.3.1 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, 5where genetic material of an aquatic organism has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally, 18science-based 17risk assessment should be used to 17address possible risks on a case-by-case basis. Induction of polyploidy is not included.

51. 22Infrastructure construction and waste disposal should be conducted responsibly.

52. 6,10Feeds, feed additives, chemicals, veterinarty [sic] drugs, including antimicrobials, manure and fertilizer, should be used responsibly 15to minimize their adverse impacts on the environment and to promote economic viability.

Socio-economic aspects

53. Aquaculture should be conducted in a socially responsible manner, 4within national rules and regulations, having regard to the ILO [International Labour Organization]-convention on labour rights, 23not jeopardizing the livelihood of aquaculture workers and local communities. Aquaculture contributes to rural development, enhances benefits and equity in local communities, alleviates poverty and promotes food security. As a result, socio-economic issues should be considered at all stages of aquaculture planning, development and operation.

54. The importance of 23corporate social responsibility from aquaculture to local communities should be recognized.

Minimum substantive criteria for addressing socio-economic aspects in aquaculture certification schemes:

55. 23Workers should be treated responsibly and 4in accordance with national labour rules and regulations and, where appropriate, relevant ILO conventions.

56. Workers should be 23paid wages and provided benefits and working conditions 4according to national laws and regulations.

57. 23Child labour should not be used in a manner inconsistent 4with ILO  conventions and international standards.

This page was last updated 03 September 2023.