Report of the Technical Consultation on International Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries - Rome, 19-22 October 2004

PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This is the report of the Technical Consultation on International Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries adopted on 22 October 2004.

Distribution/Distribución:

All FAO Members/Tous les Membres de la FAO/Todos los Miembros de la FAO

Participants at the session/Participants à la session/Participantes en la reunión

Other interested Nations and national and international organizations/Autres pays et organisations nationales et internationales intéressés/Otros países y organizaciones nacionales e internacionales interesados

FAO Fisheries Department/Département des pêches de la FAO/Departamento de Pesca de la FAO

FAO Regional Fishery Officers/Fonctionnaires régionaux des pêches de la FAO/Oficiales Regionales de Pesca de la FAO

OPENING OF THE CONSULTATION

1. On the recommendation of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) at its twenty-fifth session, and the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade at its ninth session, the Director-General of FAO, Mr Jacques Diouf, convened the Technical Consultation on International Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Fisheries (Rome, Italy, 19-22 October 2004).

2. The Consultation was attended by 57 Members of FAO and by observers from four intergovernmental and nine international non-governmental organizations. The list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix B. The documents that were placed before the Consultation are listed in Appendix C.

3. The meeting was called to order by the Secretary of the Consultation, Mr Rolf Willmann.

4. Mr Ichiro Nomura, Assistant Director-General, FAO Fisheries Department, in his opening statement on behalf of the Director-General, recalled that many FAO Members, at the eight session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, requested FAO to advance the process of the development of international guidelines on ecolabelling through the holding of an expert consultation. This request was subsequently endorsed by the twenty-fifth session of COFI and the expert consultation was convened by FAO in October 2003. The report of the Expert Consultation was submitted to the ninth session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade which was on the whole satisfied by the work that had been accomplished and recommended that FAO organize a Technical Consultation? to further elaborate the work of the Expert Consultation and finalize the draft guidelines for consideration by the twenty-sixth session of COFI in 2005.

ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON

5. Dr Douglas S. Butterworth (South Africa) was elected Chairman of the Consultation.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION

6. The Consultation adopted the Agenda as given in Appendix A. The Chairman outlined the timetable for the Consultation.

ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRPERSONS AND DESIGNATION OF RAPPORTEUR

7. Ms Gudrun Eyjolfsdottir (Iceland), Ms Nancy Tablante (Venezuela) and Mr Hideo Inomata (Japan) were elected First, Second and Third Vice-Chairpersons respectively, and Mr J. Roderick Forbes (Canada) Rapporteur.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF INTEREST TO THE CONSULTATION

8. The Consultation welcomed the brief review provided by the Secretariat on recent trends in the ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries. It expressed appreciation for FAO's role in this field and encouraged continued collaboration with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other organizations, as appropriate, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The special needs and requirements of developing countries and countries in transition in participating in ecolabelling schemes were highlighted in terms of technical and financial assistance as well as capacity building and infrastructure development. These required greater attention in the future work of FAO in this field.

REVIEW OF THE DRAFT INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE ECOLABELLING OF FISH AND FISHERY PRODUCTS FROM MARINE CAPTURE FISHERIES

9. Item 4 was introduced by the Chair of the Expert Consultation on the Development of International Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries (Rome, 14-17 October 2003). The work carried out by the Expert Consultation was commended by the meeting, which also expressed its appreciation for the concise presentation by its Chair.

10. In its general discussion of the draft guidelines (TC:EMF/2004/3), the meeting noted the overall spirit and structure of the document. It stressed the benefits of internationally agreed guidelines aimed at avoiding the misuse of ecolabelling schemes through, inter alia, preventing them becoming barriers to trade.

11. In-depth discussions then focused on many topics including consistency in terms and definitions, a better balance between the section dealing with procedural and institutional aspects and the section dealing with minimum substantive requirements and criteria for ecolabels, the role and situation of regional fisheries management organizations, and the need to ensure consistency in the implementation of ecolabelling schemes with WTO rules. The special needs and requirements of developing countries and countries in transition, especially relating to feasibility and cost implications, also needed to be better reflected in the guidelines.

FOLLOW-UP

12. The Consultation indicated that much progress had been made during the meeting and that it had completed one of the two parts of the draft guidelines. This part contained the procedural and institutional aspects of ecolabelling schemes and could be submitted to COFI. The Consultation nevertheless acknowledged that more work was still necessary on the other part, which contained the provisions on terms and definitions and the minimum substantive requirements and criteria. It was also understood, for the purpose of finalizing the discussion and reaching consensus on the document, that the draft guidelines should be considered as a whole since the two parts are closely linked. For that reason, the Consultation recommended that a two days meeting should be convened immediately before the next session of COFI, notwithstanding the possibility of further negotiations during COFI itself. The draft guidelines are given in Appendix D.

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

13. The Technical Consultation adopted the report on 22 October 2004

APPENDIXES

A. Agenda

1. Opening

2. Election of chairpersons

3. Recent developments of interest to the Consultation

4. Review of the draft international guidelines for the ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries

4a Principles and criteria

4b Procedural and institutional requirements

5. Review of the draft international guidelines for the ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries

6 Follow-up

7. Adoption of the report

B. List of delegates and observers

MEMBER COUNTRIES/PAYS MEMBRES/PAÍSES MIEMBROS

ANGOLA

Carlos A. AMARAL (Mr)
Counsellor
Alternate Permanent Representative to FAO, FIDA and PAM
Via Filippo Bernardini, 21
00165 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 39366902/39388666
Fax: +39 06 39366570
E-mail: [email protected]

Tungu SILVAIN (Mr)
Head of Department
Marine Research Institute
Ministry of Fisheries
C.P. 2601
Tel: +244 2 309078
Fax: +244 2 309078
Mobile: +244 2 92400117
E-mail: [email protected]

Júlia AIROSA FERREIRA (Ms)
Biogysta
Ministry of Fisheries
Tel: +244 91 505043
Fax: +244
E-mail: [email protected]

ARGENTINA/ARGENTINE

Elisa CALVO (Ms)
Coordinadora
Dirección de Economía Pesquera
Subsecretaría de Pesca y Acuicultura
Av Paseo Colon 922, 3° Of. 337
Cdad. Aut. De Bs. As.
1212 Buenos Aires
Tel: +54 11 4349 2476
Fax: +54 11 4349 2329
E-mail: [email protected]

Hilda GABARDINI (Ms)
Representante Permanente Adjunto de la República Argentina ante la FAO
Piazza dell'Esquilino 2
00185 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 474 2551
Fax: +39 06 481 9787
E-mail: [email protected]

AUSTRALIA/AUSTRALIE

Brett J. HUGHES (Mr)
Counsellor (Agriculture)
Australian Embassy
Via Alessandria 215
00198 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 8527 2376
Fax: +39 06 8527 2346

BRAZIL/BRÉSIL/BRASIL

Saulo A. CEOLIN
Alternate Permanent Representative
Representation of Brazil to FAO
V. di Santa Maria dell'Anima, 32
00186 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 6789 353
Fax: +39 06 6839 8802
E-mail: [email protected]

CANADA/CANADÁ

J. Roderick FORBES (Mr)
Director, Policy
International Coordination and Policy Analysis
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street
Ottawa K1A 0E6
Tel: +1 613 993 2539
Fax: +1 613 990 9574
E-mail: [email protected]

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC/RÉPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE/REPÚBLICA CENTROAFRICANA

Barthélemy KAïMBA (Mr)
Directeur des eaux, pêches et pisciculture
Ministère des eaux, forêts, chasses et pêches
B.P. 830
Tel: +236 610975
Fax: +236 618053
Mobile: +236 052419
E-mail: kaï[email protected]

CHINA/CHINE

Zhao GANG (Mr)
Principal Staff Member
Division of International Cooperation
Bureau of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture
No. 11, Nongzhanguan Nanli
Beijing 100026
Tel: +86 10 6419 2973
Fax: +86 10 6419 2951
E-mail: [email protected]

Chen ZHUYONG (Mr)
Deputy Principal Staff Member
Division of Policy and Legal Affairs
Bureau of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture
No. 11, Nongzhanguan Nanli
Beijing 100026
Tel: +86 10 6419 2956
Fax: +86 10 6419 2985
E-mail: [email protected]

Yamin WANG (Mr)
Second Secretary, Fisheries
Representative of China to FAO
Via degli Urali 12
00144 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 5919 3121
Fax: +39 06 5919 3130
E-mail: [email protected]

COLOMBIA/COLOMBIE

Juan Carlos SÁNCHEZ FRANCE (Mr)
Representante Permanente Alterno
Embajada de Colombia
Via Giuseppe Pisanelli 4, int. 10
00196 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 361 2131
Fax: +39 06 322 5748
E-mail: [email protected]

CONGO

Emile ESSEMA
Deuxième Conseiller
Via Ombrone 8/10
00198 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 841 7422
Fax: +39 06 841 7422

COSTA RICA

Victoria GUARDIA de HERNANDEZ (Ms)
Embajador - Representante Permanente
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Viale Liege No. 2
00197 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 8424 2850
Fax: +39 06 4425 1048
E-mail: [email protected]

Yolanda GAGO (Ms)
Representante Permanente Alterno
Viale Liege #2
00197 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 84242850
Fax: +39 06 4425 1048
E-mail: [email protected]

CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Denis KOUAKOU (Mr)
Vétérinaire - Inspecteur
Directeur des Services vétérinaires et de la qualité
Ministère de la production animale et des ressources halieutiques
06 BP 2236 Abidjan 06
Tel: +225 2248 8145
Fax: +225 2248 8145
Mobile: +225 0709 4657
E-mail: [email protected]

DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA/RÉPUBLIQUE POPULAIRE DÉMOCRATIQUE DE CORÉE/REPÚBLICA POPULAR DEMOCRÁTICA DE COREA

Ri YONG HO (Mr)
Second Secretary
Embassy of the DPR of Korea
Via Ludovico di Savoia 23
00185 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 5422 0749
Fax: +39 06 5421 0090
E-mail: [email protected]

DENMARK/DANEMARK/DINAMARCA

Soren SKAFTE (Mr)
Minister
Deputy Permanent Representative to FAO
Royal Danish Embassy
Via dei Monti Parioli 50
00197 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 9774 8329
Fax: +39 06 9774 8399
E-mail: [email protected]

ECUADOR

Sr Don Emilio Izquierdo Miño
Embajador
Representante Permanente ante la FAO
Embajada de la República del Ecuador
Via Antonio Bertoloni 8
00197 Roma
Tel: +39 06 45439007
Fax: +39 06 8076271
E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Sandro Celi
Representante Alterno
Embajada de la República del Ecuador
Via Antonio Bertoloni 8
00197 Roma
Tel: +39 06 45439007
Fax: +39 06 8076271
E-mail: [email protected]

EGYPT/ÉGYPTE/EGIPTO

Maryam Ahmed Moustafa MOUSSA (Ms)
Minister Plenipotentiary for Agricultural Affairs in Egyptian Embassy
Embassy of Arab Republic of Egypt
Via Salaria 267, Villa Ada
00199 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 854 8956
Fax: +39 06 854 2603
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.agrioffegypt.it

EL SALVADOR

María Eulalia JIMÉNEZ (Ms)
Ministra Consejera
Representante Adjunto de El Salvador ante Organismos
Via Gualtiero Castellini, 13
Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 8076605
Fax: +39 06 8079726
E-mail: [email protected]

ESTONIA/ESTONIE

Hannes ULMAS (Mr)
Head of Bureau of Market Organization, Processing Industry and Aquaculture
39/41 Lai Street
15056 Tallinn
Tel: +372 625 6264
Fax: +372 625 6200
E-mail: [email protected]

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (Member Organization)/COMMUNAUTÉ EUROPÉENNE (Organisation membre)/COMUNIDAD EUROPEA (Organización miembro)

Friedrich WIELAND (Mr)
Head of Unit, Common organisation of markets and trade
Fisheries Directorate-General
European Commission
99 rue Joseph II
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 296 3205
Fax: +32 2 295 9752
E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Véronique ANGOT (Ms)
Administrateur, Vétérinaire
Organisation commune des marchés et commerce, Direction générale de la pêche
Commission européenne
99 rue Joseph II
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 296 6406
Fax: +32 2 295 9752
E-mail: [email protected]

Maryse COUTSOURADIS (Ms)
Attaché, Délégation de la Commission européenne auprès des Organisations des Nations Unies à Rome
Via IV Novembre 149
00187 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 679 7823
Fax: +39 06 679 7830
E-mail: [email protected]

Simon RENK (Mr)
Intern, Delegation of the European Commission
Via IV Novembre 149
00147 Rome, italy
Tel: +39 06 679 7823
Fax: +39 06 679 7830
E-mail: [email protected]

Juan Pablo PERTIERRA (Mr)
Scientific Officer
European Commission
Fisheries Directorate-General
Rue Joseph II/Jozef II-straat 99
B-1049 Brussels
Tel: 32 2 296 6443
Fax: 32 2 295 7862
E-mail: [email protected]

GERMANY/(FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF)/ALLEMAGNE (RÉPUBLIQUE FÉDÉRALE D'/ALEMANIA (REPÚBLICA FEDERAL DE)

Dr Markus BRILL (Mr)
Division 621
Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection
Food and Agriculture
Rochusstrasse 1
53123 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 529 3821
Fax: +49 228 529 4410
E-mail: [email protected]

Berthold SCHIRM (Mr)
Adviser
GTZ - German Technical Cooperation
Division 45
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Dag Hammarskjöld-Weg 1-5
Postfach 51 80
65760 Eschborn
Tel: +49 (0)61 96/79-1470
Fax: +49 (0)61 96/79-6103
E-mail: [email protected]

Dierk PETERS (Mr)
Bundesverband der Deutschen Fischindustrie und des Fischgroßhandels e V
Unilever
Dammfortrall 15
203 55 Hamburg
Tel: +49 (0)40 3597 2370
Fax: +49 (0)40 35921 2370
E-mail: [email protected]

Heiner THOFERN (Mr)
First Counsellor
Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to FAO
Via San Martino della Battaglia 4
00185 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4921 31/4921 3280
Fax: +39 06 4921 3281
E-mail: [email protected]

GHANA

George HUTCHFUL (Mr)
Deputy Director of Fisheries
Directorate of Fisheries
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P.O. Box 630
Accra
Tel: +233 21 776 005
Fax: +233 21 776 005
Mobile: +233 24 160621
E-mail: [email protected]

Samuel N.K. QUAATEY (Mr)
Assistant Director of Fisheries
Directorate of Fisheries
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P.O. Box 630
Accra
Tel: +233 21 776 005/22 208 048
Fax: +233 21 776 005
Mobile: +233 20 8163412
E-mail: [email protected]

GREECE/GRÈCE/GRECIA

Emmanuel MANOUSSAKIS (Mr)
Alternate Permanent Representative of Greece to FAO
Viale G. Rossini 4
00198 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 8537 5564-25
Fax: +39 06 841 5927
E-mail: [email protected]

Nikiforos FILIPPOUSIS (Mr)
Administrator
Directorage General for Fisheries
Ministry of Rural Development and Food
Acharnon 381
11143 Athens
Tel: +30 210 212 5322
Fax: +30 210 211 1719

GUINEA/GUINÉE

Aribot M'Mah SAVANE (Mrs)
Directrice générale adjointe du Service
Ministère de la pêche et de l'aquaculture
BP 307 Conakry
Tel: +224 41 5231
Fax: +224 41 5230
Mobile: +224 25 1716
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

HONDURAS

Oscar Antonio OYUELA (Mr)
Embajador
Via della Balduina 224, apto. 78
00136 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 355 77278
Fax: +39 06 355 77219
E-mail: [email protected]

ICELAND/ISLANDE/ISLANDIA

Gudrún Eyjólfsdóttir (Ms)
Senior Adviser
Ministry of Fisheries
Skúlagata 4
IS-150 Reykjavík
Tel: +354 545 8300
Fax: +354 562 1853
Mobile: +354 861 1291
E-Mail: [email protected]

Kristjan Thórarinsson (Mr)
Population Ecologist
The Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners
Borgartuni 35
IS-105 Reykjavik
Tel: +354 591 0300
Fax: +354 591 0301
Mobile: +354 824 2306
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.liu.is

INDONESIA/INDONÉSIE

Setia MANGUNSONG (Mr)
Director of Quality and Processing
DG of Capture Fisheries
Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Jl. Harsono RM No 3, Build B Floor 6
Ragunan-Pasar Minggu
Jakarta Selatan
Tel: +62 21 7826 104
Fax: +62 21 7883 9324
E-mail: [email protected]

Kartodimedjo SANTOSO (Mr)
Director of National Center of Quality Control and Processing
Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries
Jl. Muara Baru, Penjaringan
11470 Jakarta, Utara
Tel: +62 21 669 5519
Fax: +62 21 669 5593
Mobile: +62 816 483 6807
E-mail: [email protected]

ISMAYANTI (Mrs)
DEA
Directorate GeneralofAquaculture
Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Jl. Harsono RM No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
Tel: +62 21 7822 779
Fax: +62 21 7822 779
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

Riana FAIZA (Ms)
Head of Technical Implementing Unit
Local Authority of DKI Jakarta
Laboratory Fish Inspection and Quality Control
Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries
JL. Taman Pluit Murni No. 1
11470 Jakarta
Tel: +62 21 668 4224
Fax: +62 21 669 2291
Mobile: +62 0816 1875041
E-mail: [email protected]

Sunggul SINAGA (Mr)
Alternate Permanent Representative of Indonesia to FAO, IFAD, WFP
Via Campania, 53-55
00187 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 420 09134
Fax: +39 06 488 0280
E-mail: [email protected]

IRAN (Islamic Republic of)/IRAN (République Islamique d')/IRÁN (República Islámica del)

Reza NOORI DAFRAZI (Mr)
Fishing Statistics & Biometry Expert
Iranian Fisheries Company
No 250 Dr. Fatemi Ave.
Tehran
Tel: +98 21 694 1373
Fax: +98 21 694 1357-9
E-mail: [email protected]

ITALY/ITALIE/ITALIA

Valentina TEPEDINO (Ms)
Editor-in-chief
Euro FISHMARKET, AQUATILIA
Via Montessori, 2
23900 Lecco
Mobile: +39 338 3148120
E-mail: [email protected]

Bianca Maria POLI (Mrs)
Full Professor
Dep. Ministero Politiche Agricole Forestali
Dep. Scienze Zootechniche, Univ. Firenze
Via Cascine 5
50144 Firenze
Tel: +39 055 328 8405
Fax: +39 055 321 216
Mobile: +39 335 7012822
E-mail: [email protected]

JAPAN/JAPON/JAPÓN

Hideo INOMATA (Mr)
Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to FAO
Embassy of Japan in Rome
Via Quintino Sella, 60
Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4879 91/4879 9410
Fax: +39 06 488 5109
E-mail: [email protected]

KUWAIT/KOWEÏT

Mobarek AL-MAGHRIBI (Mr)
Public Authority for Agr. Affairs & Fish Resources (PAAF), Fishery Department
PAAF 12037
Safat 1307
Tel: +965 47 44660
Fax: +965 47 12425
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.PAAF.gov.kw

Jamal AL-SAIF (Mr)
Head, Fishery Department
Public Authority for Agr. Affairs & Fish Resources (PAAF)
PAAF 12037
Safat 1307
Tel: +965 47 44660
Fax: +965 47 12425
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.PAAF.gov.kw

LITHUANIA/LITUANIE/LITUANIA

Ramune MICKUVIENE (Mrs)
Head of Market and Trade Division
Fisheries Department under the
Ministry of Agriculture
J. Lelevelio str. 6
LT-01103 Vilnius-25
Tel: +370 5 239 1184
Fax: +370 5 239 1176
Mobile: +370 650 50545
E-mail: [email protected]

MAURITANIA/MAURITANIE

Mohamedine Fall OULD ABDI (Mr)
Directeur Amenagement Ressources
Halieutiques Mauritanie
Ministère des Pêches
BP 137
Tel: +222 525 1339
Fax: +222 525 1339
Mobile: +222 631 7023
E-mail: [email protected]

MEXICO/MEXIQUE/MÉXICO

Víctor Hugo MORALES MELÉNDEZ (Mr)
Representante Permanente Adjunto de México ante la FAO
Via Lazzaro Spallanzani 16
00161 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 441151
Fax: +39 06 440 3876
E-mail: [email protected]

Mario G. AGUILAR SÁNCHEZ (Mr)
Minister for Fisheries Affairs
Embassy of Mexico
1666 K. St., Suite 12
Washington D.C., USA
Tel: +1 202 2938138
Fax: +1 202 4148138
E-mail: [email protected]

Ursula DOZAL (Ms)
Third Secretary
Embassy of Mexico
Via Lazzaro Spallanzani 16
00161 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4411 5234
Fax: +39 06 440 3876
E-mail: [email protected]

Vladimir HERNÁNDEZ LARA (Mr)
Consejero de la Embajada de México
Via Lazzaro Spallanzani 16
00161 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 44115218
Fax: +39 06 440 3876
Mobile: +39 328 9499 950
E-mail: [email protected]

Rafael TOVAR Y DE TERESA (Mr)
Representante Permanente de México ante la FAO
Via Lazzaro Spallanzani 16
00161 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 441 151
Fax: +39 06 440 3876

Luis Miguel LÓPEZ MORENO (Mr)
Director General de Políticas Pesquera y Acuícola
Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca
CONAPESCA
Ave. Camarón Sábalo s/n esq. Tiburon. Sábalo Country Club C.P. 82100, Mazatlán Sinaloa, MEXICO.
Fax: +52 669 913 0907

MOROCCO/MAROC/MARRUECOS

Khadija TOUZANI (Ms)
Administrateur des Affaires Maritimes
Ministère de la Pêche Maritime
Rabat
Tel: +212 37 688275
Fax: +212 37 688294
E-mail: [email protected]

NAMIBIA/NAMIBIE

Ueritjiua KAUARIA (Mr)
Policy Analyst
Policy, Planning and Economics
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Private Bag 13355
Windhoek
Tel: +264 61 205 3127
Fax: +264 61 244161
E-mail: [email protected]

NETHERLANDS/PAYS-BAS/PAÍSES BAJOS

Jeroen STEEGHS (Mr)
Counsellor, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN Organizations
Via delle Terme Deciane 6
00153 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 574 0306
Fax: +39 06 574 4927
Mobile: +39 335 207866
E-mail: [email protected]

Ewald WERMUTH (Mr)
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to FAO
Via delle Terme Deciane 6
00153 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 574 0306
Fax: +39 06 574 4927

Anushka SWALEF (Ms)
Second Secretary, Alternate Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to FAO
Via delle Terme Deciane 6
00153 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 574 0306
Fax: +39 06 574 4927

NEW ZEALAND/NOUVELLE-ZÉLANDE/NUEVA ZELANDIA

Jane WILLING (Ms)
Manager International Fisheries
Ministry of Fisheries
ASB Bank House, 101-103 The Terrace
PO Box 1020
Wellington
Tel: +64 4 470 2651
Fax: +64 4 470 2596
Mobile: +64 21 419 167
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

Simon DRAPER (Mr)
Alternate Permanent Representative
New Zealand Embassy
Via Zara 28
00198 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 441 7171
Fax: +39 06 440 2984
E-mail: [email protected]

NICARAGUA

Amelia Silva CABRERO (Ms)
Ministro Consejero
Representante Permanente Alterno
Embajada de Nicaragua
Via Brescia No 16
00198 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 841 3471
Fax: +39 06 8530 4079
E-mail: [email protected]

NORWAY/NORVÈGE/NORUEGA

Elisabeth WILMANN (Ms)
Deputy Director General
Ministry of Fisheries
P.O. Box 8118 Dep, Grubbegata 1
NO-0032 Oslo
Tel: +47 22246477
Fax: +47 22249585
Email: [email protected]

Kristin ALNES (Ms)
Director International Affairs
Norwegian Seafood Federation
Essendropsgt. 6
Postboks 5471 Majorstuen
0305 Oslo
Tel: +47 2308 8733
Fax: +47 2308 8731
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.fhl.no

PANAMA/PANAMÁ

Horacio MALTEZ (Mr)
Representante Permanente Adjunto
Viale Regina Margherita 239 - Piso 4
00198 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4426 5429
Fax: +39 06 4425 2332
E-mail: [email protected]

PHILIPPINES/FILIPINAS

Noel DE LUNA (Mr)
Deputy Permanent Representative
Philippine Embassy
Viale delle Medaglie D'Oro 112
00136 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 3974 6717
Fax: +39 06 3988 9925
E-mail: [email protected]

PORTUGAL

Maria Antonieta CUNHA COUTINHO (Ms)
Departamento da Indústria Transformadora e Mercados, Direcçáo Geral das Pescas e Aquicultura
Ministério da Agricultura Pescas e Florestas
Edifício DGPA - Av. Brasilia
1449-030 Lisboa
Tel: +351 21 303 5700
Fax: +351 21 303 5924
E-mail: [email protected]

QATAR

Akeel HATOOR (Mr)
Alternate Representative for Qatar
Qatar Embassy
Via Antonio Bosio 14
00161 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4424 9450
Fax: +39 06 4424 5273
E-mail: [email protected]

REPUBLIC OF KOREA/RÉPUBLIQUE DE CORÉE/REPÚBLICA DE COREA

Hyun-Jong KIM (Mr)
Deputy Director
International Cooperation Office
Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries
50 Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun-Gu
Seoul 120-715
Tel: +82 2 3148 6992
Fax: +82 2 3148 6996
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

Dr In-Soo LEE (Mr)
Marketing & Processing, Coordination Div.
Fisheries Policy Bureau
Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries
50 Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun-Gu
Seoul 120-715
Tel: +82 2 3148 6924
Fax: +82 2 3148 6919
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

Chang-Hyun KIM (Mr)
Alternate Permanent Representative to FAO
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Via Barnaba Oriani 30
00197 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 808 8769/80246206
Fax: +39 06 8068 7794
E-mail: [email protected]

ROMANIA/ROUMANIE/RUMANIA

Dr Gheorge RADU (Mr)
Ichthyologist, Senior Researcher
National Institute for Marine Research and Development
B-dul MAMAIA 300
RO-8700 Constantza
Tel: +40 241 543288/540870
Fax: +40 241 831274
E-mail: [email protected]

Viorel MARIUTAN (Mr)
Counsellor, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Ministry of Agriculture
Bd. Carol, nr. 24
Bucarest, Sector 3
Tel: +40 21 307 8638
Fax: +40 21 307 8639

Gabriela DUMITRIU (Ms)
Deputy Permanent Representative to FAO, WFP, IFAD
Embassy of Romania
Via Nicolo Tartaglia, 36 (Parioli)
00197 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 807 3082
Fax: +39 06 808 4995
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.roembit.org

SAUDI ARABIA/ARABIE SAOUDITE/ARABIA SAUDITA

Ahmed S. AL-MASHHADI (Mr)
Ministry of Agriculture & Aquatic Env. Dep.
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O. Box 52835
Riyadh 11573
Tel: +966 1 232 3446
Fax: +966 1 237 2253
Mobile: +966 050 545 0935
E-mail: [email protected]

SOLOMON ISLANDS/ÎLES SALOMON/ISLAS SALOMÓN

Hon. Simeon BOURO (Mr)
Member of Parliament
P.O. Box G 19
Honiara
Tel: +677 24135
E-mail: [email protected]

Jimi SAELEA (Mr)
Head of Agricultural Research Centre
Advisor/Member of delegation
P.O. Box G 13
Honiara
Tel: +677 27987
E-mail: [email protected]

SOUTH AFRICA/AFRIQUE DU SUD/SUDÁFRICA

Douglas S. Butterworth (Mr)
Professor
University of Cape Town
Department of Mathematics and
Applied Mathematics
Rondebosch 7701
Tel: +27 21 650 2343
Fax: +27 21 650 2334
E-mail: [email protected]

SPAIN/ESPAGNE/ESPAÑA

Carmen RODRÍGUEZ MUÑOZ (Ms)
Jefa de Servicio Técnico
Secretaría General
Pesca Maritima
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion
Corazón de María 8 - 5ª planta
28002 Madrid
Tel: +34 91 3473694
Fax: +34 91 3478445
E-mail: [email protected]

Diego HERRERO DE EGAÑA (Mr)
Secretaria General de Pesca Maritima
FROM
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 6830 1717
Mobile: +39 349 891 3326
E-mail: [email protected]

Ernesto RIOS (Mr)
Representación Permanente de España ante la FAO
Largo dei Lombardi 21
00186 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 687 8762
Fax: +39 06 687 3076
E-mail: [email protected]

SUDAN/SOUDAN/SUDÁN

Abdel Wahab Hassan BEHIERI (Mr)
Director General of Inland Fisheries from Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries
P.O. Box 293
111 Kartoum
Tel: +249 183 476128
Fax: +249 183 476996
E-mail: [email protected]

M.S.M.A. HARRI (Mr)
Sudan Permanent Representative
Sudan Embassy
Ministry of Agri & Forestry
Via Lazzaro Spallanzani 24
00161 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 440 4174
Fax: +39 06 440 2358
E-mail: [email protected]

SWEDEN/SUÈDE/SUECIA

Ylva MATTSSON (Ms)
Economist
National Board of Fisheries
Department of Markets and Structures Policy
Ekelundsgatan 1, Box 423
SE-401 26 Göteborg
Tel: +46 31 7430395
Fax: +46 31 7430444
Mobile: +46 709 925755
E-mail: [email protected]

THAILAND/THAÏLANDE/TAILANDIA

Jirawan YAMPRAYOON (Mrs)
Director
Fish Inspection and Quality Control Division
Kasetsart Campus, Jatuchak
Bangkok 10900
Tel: +66 2558 0133
Fax: +66 2558 0136
Mobile: +66 9016619
E-mail: [email protected]

Pornprome CHAIRIDCHAI (Mr)
Alternate Permanent Representative
Office of Agricultural Affairs
Royal Thai Embassy
Via Casia 929
00189 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 303 63687
Fax: +39 06 303 12700
Mobile: +39 339 6192355
E-mail: [email protected]

Saowaluck SUPAKAMONSENEE (Ms)
Policy and Plan Analyst
National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
3 Ratchadamnoen Nok Ave.
Bangkok 10200
Tel: +66 2280 1542
Fax: +66 2629 8978
E-mail: [email protected]

TURKEY/TURQUIE/TURQUÍA

Hasan Alper ELEKON (Mr)
Agricultural Engineer, Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Akay Caddesi. No 3, Bakanliklar
06110 Ankara
Tel: +90 312 417 4176 ext. 5051
Fax: +30 312 419 8319
E-mail: [email protected]

UKRAINE/UCRAINA

Vasyl CHERNIK (Mr)
Deputy Chairman
State Department for the Fisheries of Ukraine
Artema 45 A
Kiev 04050
Tel: +38 (0)44 226 2405
Fax: +38 (0)44 226 2405
E-mail: [email protected]

Anna LYTOVCHENKO (Mrs)
Deputy Head of Division
State Department for Fisheries Division of International Cooperation and International Integration
Turhenevska, 82 A
Kiev 04050
Tel: +38 (0)44 246 8984
Fax: +38 (0)44 246 8984
E-mail: [email protected]

Oksana DRAMARETSKA (Ms)
First Secretary, Alternate Representative of Ukraine to FAO
Via Guido d'Arezzo, 9
00198 Rome
Tel: +39 06 8412 630
Fax: +39 06 8547 539
E-mail: [email protected]

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA/REPUBLIQUE-UNIE DE TANZANIE/REPÚBLICA UNIDA DE TANZANÍA

Geofrey F. NANYARO (Mr)
Assistant Director of Fisheries - Fish Standards
Fisheries Division Tanzania
Box 2462
Dar Es Salaam
Tel: +255 22 2122 930
Fax: +255 22 2110 352

Raphael MAPUNDA (Mr)
Director
Fisheries Division
Box 2462
Dar Es Salaam
Tel: +255 22 2122 930
Fax: +255 22 2110 352
Mobile: +255 741 321 229

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ÉTATS-UNIS D'AMÉRIQUE/ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Greg SCHNEIDER (Mr)
Team Leader
International Trade Specialist
Industry and Commercial Services
NOAA Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway
Silverspring, MD
Tel: +1 301 713 2381
Fax: +1 301 713 2384
E-mail: [email protected]

Stetson TINKHAM (Mr)
Deputy Director
United States Department of State
Office of Marine Conservation
OES/OMC, Room 5806
Washington DC 20520-7818
Tel: +1 202 647 3941
Fax: +1 202 736 7350
E-mail: [email protected]

URUGUAY

Alfredo BOGLIACCINI (Mr)
Segretario
Embajada de la República del Uruguay
Via Vittorio Veneto 183
00187 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 482 1776
Fax: +39 06 482 3695
E-mail: uruguay@tuttopmi

VENEZUELA

Amyra CABRERA MONAGAS (Ms)
Directora General de Circuitos Pesqueros y Acuicultura del Ministerio de Agricultura y Tierra
Av. Lecuna Parque Central Torre Este, Piso 6
1081 Caracas
Tel: +58 212 574 5424
Fax: +58 212 574 5424
Mobile: +58 414 334 7769
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

Nancy TABLANTE (Ms)
Directora (E)
Oficina de Relaciones Internacionales
Instituto Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura (INAPESCA)
Av. Lecuna, Parque Central, Torre Este
Piso 10, El Conde.
Caracas
Tel: +58 212 571 4889
Fax: +58 212 571 4889/574 3587
Mobile: +58 414 134 1227
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Web: www.inapesca.gov.ve

Freddy LEAL (Mr)
Agricultural Attaché
Venezuelan Embassy
Via Tartaglie 15
00197 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 807 9197
Fax: +39 06 807 8110
E-mail: [email protected]

YEMEN/YÉMEN

Hana Rasheed Ahmed TAHEN (Ms)
Director of Planning
Ministry of Fish Wealth
S. Hail Sana's
Tel: +967 718 00567
Fax: +967 268 681

OBSERVERS FROM INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS/OBSERVATEURS DES ORGANISATIONS INTERGOUVERMENTALES/ OBSERVADORES DE LAS ORGANIZACIONES INTERGUBERMENTALES

PERMANENT SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION/COMMISSION PERMANENTE DU PACIFQUE SUD/COMISIÓN PERMANENTE DEL PACÍFICO SUR (CPPS)

Alfonso JALIL ALVAREZ (Mr)
Director Económico CPPS
Av. Carlos Julio Arosemena Km 3
Edificio Inmaral, primer piso
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Tel: +593 4 2221202/3
Fax: +593 4 2221201
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.cpps-int.org

INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION (IATTC)/COMMISSION INTERAMÉRICAINE DU THON TROPICAL (CITT)/COMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DEL ATÚN TROPICAL

Dr Martin HALL (Mr)
Chief Scientist of the Tuna-Dolphin Program
IATTC
8604 La Jolla Shores Dr
La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Tel: +1 858 546 7044
Fax: +1 858 546 7133
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.iattc.org

SOUTHEAST ASIAN FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SEAFDEC)/CENTRE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES PÊCHES DE L'ASIE DU SUD-EST/CENTRO DE DESARROLLO DE LA PESCA EN ASIA SUDORIENTAL

Suriyan VICHITLEKARN (Mr)
Policy and Program Coordinator
SEAFDEC Secretariat
P.O. Box 1046 Kasetsart Post Office
Bangkok 10903, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 940 6326
Fax: +66 2 940 6336
E-mail: [email protected]

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)/ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE (OMC)/ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO (OMC)

Christina SCHRODER (Ms)
Counsellor
Agriculture and Commodities Division
Rue de Lausanne 154
CH - 1211 Geneva 21
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 739 5247
Fax: +41 22 739 5760
E-mail: [email protected]

OBSERVERS FROM INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS/OBSERVATEURS DES ORGANIZATIONS NON GOUVERNEMENTALES/OBSERVADORES DE LAS ORGANIZACIONES NO GUBERNAMENTALES

COALITION FOR FAIR FISHERIES ARRANGEMENTS (CFFA)

Hélène Bours (Ms)
Representative of CFFA
Rue Du Midi 165
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 513 1565
Fax: +32 2 513 7343
E-mail: [email protected]

CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL (CI)/ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DES UNIONS DE CONSOMMATEURS

Stine SEM (Mrs)
Head of Section
Norwegian Consumer Council
Boks 4594 Nydalen,
0404 Oslo, Norway
Tel: +47 23 400 500
Fax: +47 23 400 503
Mobile: +47 97704956
E-mail: [email protected]

Gyrid Giaever (Mrs)
Norwegian Consumer Council
Boks 4594 Nydalen,
0404 Oslo, Norway
Tel: +47 23 400 500
Fax: +47 23 400 503
Mobile: +47 97131753
E-mail: [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF FISHERIES ASSOCIATIONS (ICFA)

Justin LEBLANC (Mr)
Executive Secretariat ICFA
7918 Jones Branch Road, Suite 700
20816 McLean, USA
Tel: +1 703 752 8889
Fax: +1 703 752 7583
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.icfa.net

INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIVE IN SUPPORT OF FISHWORKERS (ICSF)/COLLECTIF INTERNATIONAL D'APPUI AUX TRAVAILLEURS DE LA PÊCHE/COLECTIVO INTERNACIONAL DE APOYO AL PESCADOR ARTESANAL (CIAPA)

Sebastian MATHEW (Mr)
Programme Adviser, ICSF
27, College Road
Chennai 600 006
India
Tel: +91 44 2827 5303
Fax: +91 44 2825 4457
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.icsf.net

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN (ICW)/CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL DES FEMMES (CIF)/CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE MUJERES (CIDEM)

Lydie ROSSINI VAN HISSENHOVEN (Ms)
ICW Permanent Representative to FAO
Via Thailandia, 26
00144 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 592 3993
Fax: +39 06 592 3993
E-mail: [email protected]

Yvonne Melchiorri (Ms)
ICW Permanent Representative FAO
Viale Aventino 89
00153 Rome
Tel: +39 06 574 3943
Fax: +39 06 571 36190
E-mail: [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL FISHMEAL & FISH OIL ORGANISATION (IFFO)/ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DE LA FARINE ET DE L'HUILE DE POISSON/ORGANIZACIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE LA HARINA Y EL ACEITE DE PESCADO

Stuart M. BARLOW (Mr)
Executive Advisor, IFFO
2, College Yard
Lower Dagnall Street, St Albans
Herts, AL3 4PA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1727 842844
Fax: +44 (0)1727 842866
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.iffo.org.uk

Dr C.J. SHEPHERD (Mr)
Director-General, IFFO
2, College Yard
Lower Dagnall Street, St Albans
Herts, AL3 4PA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1727 842844
Fax: +44 (0)1727 842866
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Web: www.iffo.org.uk

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS' FEDERATION (ITF)

Rossen KARAVATCHEV (Mr)
Senior Section Assistant
Seafarer's Section, ITF
ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road
London SE1 1DR
Tel: +44 20 7403 2733
Fax: +44 20 7357 7871
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.itf.org.uk

MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (MSC)

Oluyemisi OLORUNTUYI (Ms)
Programme Manager - Developing World Fisheries, MSC
Unit 4 Bakery Place
119 Altenburg Gardens
London SW11 1JQ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7350 4000
Fax: +44 (0)20 7350 1231
E-mail: [email protected]

WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF)/FONDS MONDIAL POUR LA NATURE (WWF)/FONDO MUNDIAL PARA LA NATURALEZA (WWF)

Will MARTIN (Mr)
Senior Fellow, WWF
5141 Granny White Pike
Nashville, TN 37220
United States of America
Tel: +1 615 370 5676
Fax: +1 615 305 8069
E-mail: [email protected]

FAO FISHERIES DEPARTMENT/
DÉPARTEMENT DES PÊCHES DE LA FAO/
DEPARTAMENTO DE PESCA DE LA FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy

C. List of documents

D. Draft Guidelines for the ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries

SCOPE

1. These guidelines are applicable to ecolabelling [and certification] schemes that are designed to certify and promote labels for products from well-managed marine capture fisheries and focus on issues related to the sustainable use of fisheries resources.

PRINCIPLES

2. The following principles [should] apply to ecolabelling schemes for marine capture fisheries:

2.1 Be consistent with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and other relevant international intruments such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.

2.2 Recognize the sovereign rights of States and comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

2.3 Be of a voluntary nature and market-driven.

2.4 Be transparent, including balanced and fair participation by all interested parties.

2.5 Be non-discriminatory, do not create obstacles to trade^[1] and allow for fair competition.

2.6 [Facilitate access to international markets].

2.7 Establish clear accountability for the owners of schemes and the certification bodies in conformity with international standards.

2.8 Incorporate reliable, independent auditing and verification procedures.

2.9 Be considered equivalent if consistent with these guidelines.

2.10 Be based on the best scientific evidence available, also taking into account traditional knowledge of the resources provided that its validity can be objectively verified.

2.11 Be practical, viable and verifiable.

2.12 Ensure that labels communicate truthful information.

2.13 Provide for clarity.

2.14 Be based, at a minimum, on the minimum substantive requirements, criteria and procedures outlined in these guidelines.

3. The principle of transparency should apply to all aspects of an ecolabelling scheme including its organizational structure and financial arrangements.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

4. Ecolabelling schemes should take into account that principles, minimum substantive requirements, criteria and procedures set out in this document will apply equally for developed, transition and developing countries.

5. Bearing in mind that minimum substantive requirements and criteria for ecolabelling schemes deal with fisheries management, rights and duties of States, it is recognized that the involvement of governments is desirable and should be encouraged in their application. Where appropriate, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) should also be encouraged to participate in ecolabelling schemes and their application [and recognition be given to RMFOs that may have or are developing ecolabelling schemes consistent with the objectives of these guidelines. Ecolabelling schemes should give full consideration to the recommendations and advice by governments and RFMOs].

6. In accordance with Article 5 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and recognizing that all countries should have the same opportunities, and in view of the special conditions applying to developing countries and countries in transition and their important contribution to international fish trade, it is acknowledged that in order to benefit from applying ecolabelling schemes, states, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and financial institutions should provide developing countries and countries in transition with financial and technical assistance to develop and maintain appropriate management arrangements that will allow them to participate in such schemes. Such assistance should also consider direct support towards the often high costs of accreditation and certification. Development agencies and donor institutions are encouraged to support FAO in facilitating financial and technical assistance to developing countries and countries in transition.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

7. For the purpose of these International Guidelines, the following terms and definitions apply.

Accreditation

8. Procedure by which a competent authority gives formal recognition that a qualified body or person is competent to carry out specific tasks.

(Based on ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996, 12.11)

Accreditation body

9. Body that conducts and administers an accreditation system and grants accreditation.

(Based on ISO Guide 2, 17.2)

Accreditation system

10. System that has its own rules of procedure and management for carrying out accreditation.

11. Note - Accreditation of certification bodies is normally awarded following successful assessment and is followed by appropriate surveillance.

(Based on ISO Guide 2, paragraph 17.1)

[Appeal

12. Request by a person or body that was party to a complaint or by a government entity affected by a decision or finding for reconsideration and resolution by the independent panel. In cases not related to conformity assessments, appeals are dealt with by an independent committee established by the certification body, accreditation body and/or owner of the ecolabelling scheme, as appropriate.]

Arrangement

13. A cooperative mechanism established by two or more parties be they governmental, private or non-governmental entities.

Audit

14. A systematic and functionally independent examination to determine whether activities and related results comply with planned objectives.

(Based on Codex Alimentarius, Principles for Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection, CAC/GL 20)

Certification

15. Procedure by which a third party gives written or equivalent assurance that a product, process or service conforms to specified requirements. Certification may be, as appropriate, based on a range of inspection activities which may include continuous inspection in the production chain.

(Based on ISO Guide 2, 15.1.2 and Principles for Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection, CAC/GL 20)

Certification body

16. Competent and recognized body that conducts certification. A certification body may oversee certification activities carried out on its behalf by other bodies.

(Based on ISO Guide 2, 15.2)

Chain of custody

17. The set of measures which is designed to guarantee that the product put on the market and bearing the ecolabel logo is really a product coming from the certified fishery concerned. These measures should thus cover both the tracking/traceability of the product all along the processing, distribution and marketing chain as well as the proper tracking of the documentation (and control of the quantity concerned).

Complaint

18. An objection by a person or body to a decision regarding accreditation, de-accreditation, certification or de-certification.

Conformity assessment

19. Any activity concerned with determining directly or indirectly that relevant requirements are fulfilled.

20. Notes: Typical examples of conformity assessment activities are sampling, testing and inspection; evaluation, verification and assurance of conformity (supplier's declaration, certification); registration, accreditation and approval as well as their combinations.

(ISO Guide 2, 12.2)

Decision

21. Any resolution by an accreditation or certifying body or arrangement concerning the rights and obligations of a person or body.

Ecolabelling scheme

22. Ecolabelling schemes entitle a fishery product to bear a distinctive logo or statement which certifies that the fish has been harvested in compliance with conservation and sustainability standards. The logo or statement is intended to make provision for informed decisions of purchasers whose choice can be relied upon to promote and stimulate the sustainable use of fishery resources.

[Interested party

23. The interested parties to a fishery that is seeking certification or has already been certified and awarded an ecolabel include governments, fishers and the fishing industry and their organizations. Interested parties may also be regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, environmental interest groups, fish processors, traders and retailers and consumer associations.]

Standard for certification

24. Document approved by a recognized organization or arrangement, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, with which compliance is not mandatory under international trade rules. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a product, process or production method.

(Based on TBT agreement, Annex 1, para.2)

In these guidelines, unless otherwise qualified, the word standard refers to a standard for certification. The standard for certification will include requirements, criteria and performance elements in a hierarchical arrangement. For each requirement, one or more substantive criteria should be defined. For each criterion, one or more performance elements should be provided for use in assessment.

Standard-setting organization or arrangement

25. Organization or arrangement that has recognized activities in standard setting.

(Based on ISO Guide 2, paragraph 4.3)

Third party

26. Person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the issue in question.

(ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996)

Unit of certification

27. The "unit of certification" is the fishery for which ecolabelling certification is called for. The certification could encompass: the whole fishery, where a fishery refers to the activity of one particular gear-type or method leading to the harvest of one or more species; a sub-component of a fishery, for example a national fleet fishing a shared stock; or several fisheries operating on the same resources. The certification applies only to products derived from the "stock under consideration" (see Para. 29). In assessing compliance with certification standards, the impacts on the "stock under consideration" of all the fisheries utilizing that stock or stocks over their entire area of distribution are to be considered.

[MINIMUM SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA FOR ECOLABELS

Introduction

28. The following sets forth the minimum substantive Requirements and Criteria for assessing whether an ecolabel may be awarded to a fishery. Ecolabelling schemes may apply additional or more stringent requirements and criteria related to sustainable use of the resources. The Requirements and Criteria presented below must be based on and interpreted in accordance with the current suite of agreed international instruments addressing fisheries, in particular the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the 1995 Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, as well as related documentation including the 2001 Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem. [Ecolabelling schemes are or may be developed by RFMOs according to their expertise and the characteristics of the fishery under their responsibilities.]

29. Requirements are specified for each of three areas: management systems, the stock or stocks for which certification is being sought (subsequently referred to as "stock under consideration"), [and ecosystem considerations]. For management systems, Criteria are also listed. Although no specific Criteria are suggested for the "stock under consideration" or ecosystem considerations, individual ecolabelling schemes will generally apply specific criteria, as well as measurable performance elements that should be used to assess the conformity of the fishery with the requirements and the criteria of the ecolabelling scheme. In developing and applying the criteria and assessing the conformity of the fishery with the certification [standards] requirements, the views and opinions of Governments, RFMOs and FAO should be fully considered.

Management systems

30. Requirement: The fishery is conducted under a management system that ensures the satisfaction of the Requirements and Criteria described in Paragraph 31. The management system and the fishery operate in compliance with the requirements of local, national and international law and regulations, including the requirements of any regional fisheries management organization that manages the target stocks.

31. The following Criteria will apply to management systems for any fisheries, but it must be recognized that special consideration needs to be given to small-scale fisheries with respect to the availability of data and with respect to the fact that management systems can differ substantially for different types and scales of fisheries (e.g. small scale through to large scale commercial fisheries).

31.1 Adequate data and/or information are collected, maintained and assessed in accordance with applicable international standards and practices for evaluation of the current state and trends of the stocks^[2] (see below: Methodological aspects).

31.2 In determining suitable conservation and management measures, the best scientific evidence available is taken into account by the designated authority, as well as consideration of relevant traditional knowledge, provided its validity can be objectively verified, in order to evaluate the current state of the "stock under consideration"^[3] in relation to, where appropriate, stock specific target and limit reference points.^[4]

31.3 [Similarly, data and information, including verified traditional and local knowledge, are used to identify adverse impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem, and timely scientific advice is provided on the likelihood and magnitude of identified impacts (see Paragraph 35).]

31.4 The designated authorities adopt appropriate measures for the conservation and sustainable use of the "stock under consideration" based on the data, information, and scientific advice referred to in the preceding bullets^[5]. Short-term considerations should not compromise the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources.

31.5 An effective legal and administrative framework at the local, national or regional level, as appropriate, is established for the fishery^[6] and compliance is ensured through effective mechanisms for monitoring, surveillance, control and enforcement (see also Paragraph 6)^[7].

31.6 In accordance with the Code of Conduct Article 7.5, the precautionary approach is being implemented to protect the "stock under consideration" [and the aquatic environment]. Inter alia this will require that the absence of adequate scientific information should not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation and management measures^[8]. Further, relevant uncertainties are being taken into account through a suitable method of risk assessment (see Paragraph 35), in relation to reference points and levels of fishing mortality^[9].

"Stocks under consideration"

32. Requirement: The "stock under consideration" is not overfished, and is maintained at a level which promotes the objective of optimal utilization and maintains its availability for present and future generations^[10], taking into account that longer term changes in productivity can occur due to natural variability and/or impacts other than fishing. In the event that biomass drops well below such target levels, management measures should allow for restoration within reasonable time frames of the stocks to such levels.

Ecosystem considerations

[33. Requirement: In accordance with Code of Conduct Article 7.2, the identified adverse impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem are appropriately assessed and effectively addressed. Inter alia the fishery under consideration does not substantially contribute to overfishing of other stocks; biodiversity of aquatic habitats and ecosystems is conserved; identified adverse impacts on protected, endangered or threatened species, as well as on sensitive biota and habitats, are avoided or minimized; where necessary and to the extent possible, steps are being taken to rehabilitate critical fisheries habitats; and depleted stocks are being allowed to recover.^[11] International cooperation needs to be employed in order to assist developing countries and countries in transition in this regard.]

Methodological aspects

Assessing current state and trends in target stocks

34. There are many ways in which state and trends in stocks may be evaluated, that fall short of the highly quantitative and data-demanding approaches to stock assessment that are often used for large scale fisheries in developed countries. Use of less elaborate methods for stock assessment should not preclude fisheries from possible certification for ecolabelling. However it should be noted that, to the extent that the application of such methods results in greater uncertainty about the state of the "stock under consideration", more precautionary approaches to managing such resources will be required which may necessitate lower levels of utilization of the resource. There is a variety of management measures commonly used in small scale or low value fisheries that nonetheless can achieve quite adequate levels of protection for stocks in the face of uncertainty about the state of the resource.

[Identifying adverse [unacceptable] impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem

35. Much greater scientific uncertainty is to be expected in assessing possible adverse [unacceptable] ecosystem impacts of fisheries than in assessing the state of target stocks. This issue, as well as that of uncertainty in the management of fish stocks, can be addressed by taking a "risk assessment/risk management" approach. In particular, risk assessment methods can be applied at a qualitative level in the first instance (for example by use of expert opinion utilizing existing knowledge and data) to first identify impacts of possible concern. The aim here is to ensure that most possible impacts are considered, but that only likely or potentially very high consequence impacts are actually pursued further. In practice, this approach should lead to the exclusion of many possible impacts from further need for consideration. The important feature of this approach, though, is that the possible impacts are given due consideration, not just ignored or discounted out of hand. Having identified a (usually) small set of impacts requiring further attention, this may take the form either of an immediate management response (where the impact is considered to be both likely and highly consequential, or where an easy solution is available), or further analysis of the identified risk. In the latter case, this also helps to identify priorities for research and monitoring.]]

PROCEDURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS

Introduction

36. Drawing heavily on available guides, especially those produced by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this chapter of the guidelines addresses the three principal procedural and institutional matters that any ecolabelling scheme should encompass: (1) the setting of certification standards, (2) the accreditation of independent certifying bodies, and (3) the certification that a fishery and the product chain of custody are in conformity with the required standard and procedures. The certification standard encapsulates the objectives that are pursued by a scheme. It is usually expressed in specific criteria that a product and/or the production process and methods would have to meet to get certified.

37. Accreditation of a certification body seeks to verify that the body is appropriate and capable for the certifying tasks. It would have to ascertain that the certification body is neutral and independent and has the technical and financial capacity to perform a certification of the conformity of a fishery with the established standard. Similar requirements apply to the accreditation body itself. The accreditation body needs to have the technical and financial capacity to undertake accreditation tasks, and perform these tasks in a neutral, non-discriminatory and independent manner.

38. The above three steps in the setting up of an ecolabelling scheme would normally have to occur sequentially in the same order whereby (2) accreditation and (3) certification would remain regular activities of the scheme once established. The scheme may also, at a regular but longer time interval, review and revise the certification standard in view of new knowledge and experiences.

Structure

39. The procedural guidelines are presented in three parts as follows: 1) Guidelines for the setting of standards of sustainable fisheries, 2) Guidelines for accreditation, and 3) Guidelines for certification. Each of these three parts is further subdivided into four sections: i) Purpose, ii) Normative References, iii) Functions and Structure and iv) Requirements. The Requirements are the minimum requirements that a body, person or arrangement should meet to be recognized as competent and reliable in its domain. The Principles listed earlier in these guidelines apply equally to procedural and institutional aspects of marine fisheries ecolabelling schemes.

Options for governance structures

40. There are various options for the governance of an ecolabelling scheme. The initiative for a scheme could be taken by a government, an intergovernmental organization, a non-governmental organization, or a private industry association. There are also various options for the geographical range of a scheme. It could be national, regional or international in scope.

41. The owner of a scheme may not necessarily be directly engaged in its operational affaires. These may be handled by an organization or arrangement which has been specifically set up for this purpose. It could be public, non-governmental or private. The owner of the scheme may lay down rules and regulations under which the ecolabelling arrangement or body is required to operate. The body may implement one ecolabelling scheme for one specific sector (e.g. fisheries) or may have responsibilities for various sectors (textiles; paper; etc.)

42. The owner of an ecolabelling scheme should engage a separate independent specialist accreditation body to take on the task of accreditation of certification bodies on its behalf. The accreditation body could be private, public or an autonomous body governed by public service rules.

Guidelines for the Setting of Standards of Sustainable Fisheries

Purpose

43. The setting of standards is among the most critical tasks of any ecolabelling scheme of products from sustainable marine capture fisheries. The standards reflect the objectives for sustainable fisheries that are being pursued through the scheme. Standards comprise quantitative and qualitative indicators of the governance system or management regime of a fishery as well as of its outcome in terms of sustainable fisheries and conservation of marine fishery resources and related ecosystems.

44. Standards should not distort global markets and should not create unecessary obstacles to international trade.

Normative basis

45. The normative basis of standards of sustainable fisheries is given by international fisheries instruments and applicable national legislation. Relevant international fisheries instruments include, inter alia, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the 1995 Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

46. In procedural terms, the normative basis for standard development includes the following:

· ISO/IEC Guide 59 Code of good practice for standardization. 1994

· WTO TBT, ANNEX 3 Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards

· FAO 1998. Report of the Technical Consultation on the Feasibility of Developing Non-Discriminatory Technical Guidelines for Eco-Labelling of Products from Marine Capture Fisheries, Rome, Italy, 21-23 October 1998. FAO Fisheries Report No. 594

· ISEAL. P020 Guidance on ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards. Public Draft. July 2003.

· ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Voluntary Process and Production Method Standard-setting Procedures, Public Draft 1, March 2003.

Functions and organizational structure

47. A standard setting organization or arrangement is assigned with the tasks of setting, reviewing, revising, assessing, verifying and approving standards. These tasks can be fulfilled through a specialized standard-setting body or through another suitable arrangement.

48. Where there is no standard-setting body, the organizational structure of a standard-setting arrangement should include, inter alia, a technical committee of independent experts and a consultation forum whose mandates are established.

Requirements

Transparency

49. Transparency in the development of standards is necessary to guarantee and to ensure consistency with relevant international standards and to facilitate access, and participation of all interested parties, especially those of developing countries and countries in transition.

50. Standard-setting organizations or arrangements should carry out their activities in a transparent fashion and following written rules of procedure. Procedural rules should contain a mechanism for the impartial resolution of any substantive or procedural disputes about the handling of standard-setting matters.

51. A standard is under preparation (under review or under revision) from the moment a decision has been taken to develop, review or revise a standard until that standard has been adopted.

52. Once a standard has been adopted, it should be promptly published and should be accessible on the Internet.

53. At least once every six months, the standard-setting organization or arrangement should publish a work programme containing:

- its name;
- its address;
- the list of standards currently under preparation;
- the list of standards currently under reviewing or revision; and
- the list of standards which were adopted in the preceding period.

54. A notice of existence of the work programme should be published in a national or, as may be, regional or international publication of standardization activities and/or should be accessible on the Internet whenever possible.

55. On the request of any interested party, the standardizing organization or arrangement should promptly provide, or arrange to provide a copy of its standard setting procedures, most recent work programme, draft standard or final standard.

56. Translations into English, French or Spanish of standard setting procedures, most recent work programme, draft standards or final standards should be provided upon request, within the means of the standard-setting body or arrangement.

Participation by interested parties

57. Standard-setting arrangements or organizations should ensure balanced participation by independent technical experts and by representatives of interested parties in the standard development, revision and approval process. Development of standards of sustainable fisheries should, wherever possible, include representatives of fisheries management authorities, the fishing industry, fishworkers organizations, the scientific community, environmental interest groups, fish processors, traders and retailers as well as consumer associations.

58. Interested parties should be associated in the standard-setting tasks through an appropriate consultation forum or be made aware of an appropriate alternative mechanisms by which they can participate. Where more than one forum is designated, coordination requirements applicable to them should be determined.

59. Standardizing arrangements or organizations should have written procedures to guide decision-making.

Notification provisions

60. Before adopting a standard, the standardizing organization or arrangement should allow a period of at least 60 days for the submission of comments on the draft standard by interested parties. No later than the start of the comment period, the standardizing organization or arrangement should publish a notice announcing the period for commenting in a national or, as may be, regional or international publication of standardization activities and/or on the Internet.

61. The standardizing organization or arrangement should take into account, in further processing of the standard, the comments received during the period for commenting. The reply should include an explanation why a deviation from relevant national or international standards is necessary.

Keeping of records

62. Proper records of standards and development activity should be prepared and maintained.

The standard setting organization or arrangement should identify a central focal point for standards-related enquiries and for submission of comments. Contact information for this focal point should be made easily available including on the Internet.

Review and revision of standards and of standard setting procedures

63. Standards should be reviewed at regular published intervals and, if appropriate, revised following such reviews. Certified fisheries should be given a period of at least three years to come into compliance with the revised standards.

64. Proposals for revisions can be submitted by any interested party and should be considered by the standard-setting organization or arrangement through a consistent and transparent process.

65. The procedural and methodological approach for setting standards should also be updated in the light of scientific and technical progress and of the experience gained in standard setting of sustainable fisheries.

Validation of standards

66. In developing and revising standards, an appropriate procedure should be put in place to validate the standard vis-à-vis the minimum requirements for sustainable marine fisheries as laid out in these guidelines. Validation is also required to ensure that standards do not encompass criteria or requirements that are of no relevance for sustainable fisheries and could cause unnecessary barriers of trade or mislead the consumer.

Guidelines for Accreditation

Purpose

67. Accreditation provides assurance that certification bodies responsible for conducting conformity assessments with sustainability standards and chain of custody requirements in fisheries are competent to carry out such tasks. By awarding accreditation to a certification body, accreditation bodies provide assurance that the latter is able to assess and certify that a certain fish or fishery product comes from a fishery that conforms with the established standard of sustainability.

Normative Reference

68. ISO Guide 61. General Requirements for assessment and accreditation of certification/registration bodies. 1996.

Functions and structure

69. Accreditation is carried out on the basis of a system that has its own rules and management, i.e. an accreditation system. The tasks of granting accreditation following successful assessment should be undertaken by competent accreditation bodies. In order to be recognized as competent and reliable in undertaking the assessment in a non-discriminatory, impartial and accurate manner, an accreditation body should fulfill, inter alia, the following requirements.

Requirements

Non-Discrimination

70. Access to the services of the accreditation body should be open to all certification entities irrespective of their country of residence. Access should not be conditional upon the size of the applicant body or membership in any association or group, nor should accreditation be conditional upon the number of certification bodies already accredited.

71. Full recognition should be given to the special circumstances and requirements of certification bodies in developing countries and countries in transition including financial and technical assistance, technology transfer, and training and scientific cooperation.

Independence, impartiality and transparency

72. The accreditation body should be independent and impartial. In order to be impartial and independent, the accreditation body should:

- Be transparent about its organizational structure and the financial and other kinds of support it receives from public or private entities.

- Be independent from vested interests, together with its senior executive and staff.

- Be free from any commercial, financial and other pressures which might influence the results of the accreditation process.

- Ensure that decision on accreditation is taken by a person(s) who has (ve) not participated in the assessment.

- Not delegate authority for granting, maintaining, extending, reducing, suspending or withdrawing accreditation to an outside person or body.

Human and Financial Resources

73. The accreditation body should have adequate financial resources and stability for the operation of an accreditation system and should maintain appropriate arrangements to cover liabilities arising from its operations and/or activities.

74. The accreditation body should employ a sufficient number of personnel having the necessary education, training, technical knowledge and experience for performing accreditation functions in fisheries.

75. Information on the relevant qualifications, training and experience of each member of the personnel involved in the accreditation process should be maintained by the accreditation body. Record of training and experience should be kept up to date.

76. When an accreditation body decides to subcontract work related to accreditation to an external body or person, the requirements for such an external body should be no less than for the accreditation body itself. A properly documented contractual or equivalent agreement covering the arrangements including confidentiality and conflict of interests, should be drawn up.

Accountability and reporting

77. The accreditation body should be a legal entity and should have clear and effective procedures for handling applications for accreditation procedures. In particular, the accreditation body should maintain and provide to the applicants and accredited entities:

- a detailed description of the assessment and accreditation procedure;
- the documents containing the requirements for accreditation;
- the documents describing the rights and duties of accredited bodies.

78. A properly documented contractual or equivalent agreement describing the responsibilities of each party should be drafted.

79. The accreditation body should have:

- defined objectives and commitment to quality;
- procedures and instructions for quality documented in a quality manual;
- an established effective and appropriate system for quality.

80. The accreditation body should conduct periodic internal audits covering all procedures in a planned and systematic manner to verify that the accreditation system is implemented and effective.

81. The accreditation body may receive external audits on relevant aspects. The results of the audit should be accessible by the public.

82. Qualified personnel, attached to the accreditation body's team, should be nominated by the accreditation body to conduct the assessment against all applicable accreditation requirements.

83. Personnel nominated for the assessments should provide the accreditation body with a report of its findings as to the conformity of the body assessed to all of the accreditation requirements. The report should provide sufficiently comprehensive information such as:

- the qualification, experience and authority of the staff encountered;

- the adequacy of the internal organization and procedures adopted by the certification body to give confidence in its services;

- the actions taken to correct identified nonconformities including, where applicable, those identified at previous assessments.

84. The accreditation body should have policy and procedures for retaining records of what happened during the assessment visit for a period consistent with its contractual, legal or other obligations. The records should demonstrate that the accreditation procedures have been effectively fulfilled, particularly with respect to application forms, assessment reports and other documents relating to granting, maintaining, extending, reducing, suspending or withdrawing accreditation. The records should be identified, managed and disposed of in such a way as to ensure the integrity of the process and confidentiality of the information.

Resolution of complaints concerning accreditation of certifying bodies^[12]

85. The accreditation body should have a written policy and procedures for dealing with any complaints in relation to any aspect of the accreditation or de-accreditation of certifying bodies.

86. The procedures should include establishment, on an ad hoc basis as appropriate, of an independent and impartial committee to respond to a complaint. If possible, the committee should attempt to resolve any complaints through discussion or conciliation. If this is not possible, the committee should provide a written ruling to the accreditation body, which should transmit it to the other party or parties involved.

87. The accreditation body should:

a) keep a record of all complaints, and remedial actions relative to accreditation;

b) take appropriate corrective and preventive action;

c) assess the effectiveness of remedial actions;

d) safeguard confidentiality of information obtained during the investigation and resolution of complaints.

88. Information on procedures for handling complaints concerning accreditation should be made publicly available.

89. The above does not exclude recourse to other forms of legal and administrative processes as provided for in national legislation or international law.

Confidentiality

90. The accreditation body should have adequate arrangements, consistent with applicable laws, to safeguard confidentiality of the information obtained in the course of its accreditation activities at all levels of its organization, including committees and external bodies acting on its behalf.

91. Where the law requires information to be disclosed to a third party, the body should be informed of the information provided, as permitted by the law. Otherwise information about an applicant certification body should not be disclosed to a third party without a written consent of the body.

Maintenance and Extension of Accreditation

92. The accreditation body should have arrangements to ensure that an accredited certification body informs it without delay of changes in any aspects of its status or operation.

93. The accreditation body should have procedures to conduct reassessments in the event of changes significantly affecting the capabilities, or scope of accredited activities of the accredited body or the conformance with any other relevant criteria of competence specified by the accreditation body.

94. Accreditation should be re-assessed at sufficiently close intervals to verify that the accredited certification body continues to comply with the accreditation requirements. The periodicity for carrying out reassessments should not exceed five years.

Suspension and Withdrawal of Accreditation

95. The accreditation body should specify the conditions under which accreditation may be suspended or withdrawn, partially or in total, for all or part of the scope of accreditation.

Change in the accreditation requirements

96. The accreditation body should give due notice of any changes it intends to make in its requirements for accreditation.

97. It should take account of views expressed by interested parties before deciding on the precise form and effective date of the changes.

98. Following a decision on, and publication of, the changed requirements, it should verify that each accredited body carries out any necessary adjustments to its procedures within such time as, in the opinion of the accreditation body, is reasonable.

99. Special considerations should be given to accredited bodies in developing countries and countries in transition.

Proprietor or licensee of an Accreditation Symbol or a Logo^[13]

100. The accreditation body which is proprietor or licensee of a symbol or logo, intended for use under its accreditation programme, should have documented procedures describing its use.

101. The accreditation body should not allow use of its Accreditation mark or logo in any way which implies that the accreditation body itself approved a product, service or system certified by a certification body.

102. The accreditation body should take suitable action to deal with incorrect references to the accreditation system or misleading use of accreditation logos found in advertisements, catalogues, etc.

Guidelines for certification

Purpose

103. Certification is the procedure by which a third party gives written or equivalent assurance that a fishery conforms with the relevant standard and that a proper chain of custody is in place. Certification is an integral and indispensable part of any ecolabelling scheme of products from sustainable marine fisheries. It provides assurance to buyers and consumers that a certain fish or fishery product comes from a fishery that conforms with the established standard for a sustainable fishery. Impartial certification based on an objective assessment of all relevant factors ensures that ecolabels convey truthful information. This is a necessary condition for the ecolabelling scheme to attain its objectives.

Scope

104. There are two types of certification, certification of the fishery itself and certification of the chain of custody between the time the fish is harvested and the time the fish or fishery product is sold to the final consumer. Separate certificates may be issued for the fishery and for the chain of custody.

105. Two types of assessments are required for certification:

a) conformity assessment of whether a fishery conforms with the standard and related certification criteria;

b) chain of custody assessment of whether adequate measures are in place to identify fish from a certified fishery at subsequent stages of fish processing, distribution and marketing.

106. Fish and fishery products that are labelled to indicate to the consumer their origin from a sustainable fishery require both types of assessments and certificates.

Normative references

107. ISO Guide 62, General Requirements for bodies operating assessment and certification/registration of quality systems. 1996.

108. ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems. 1996.

109. WTO. Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, Article 5.

Functions and structure

110. The tasks of carrying out conformity and chain of custody assessments should be undertaken by recognized and accredited certification bodies. In order to be recognized as competent and reliable in undertaking the assessments in a non-discriminatory, impartial and accurate manner, a certification body has to fulfill, inter alia, the following requirements.

Requirements

Independence and impartiality

111. The certification body should be legally and financially independent from the owner of the ecolabelling scheme.

112. The certification body and its assessment and certifying staff, whether directly employed by the certification body or sub-contracted by it, should have no commercial, financial or any other interest in the fishery or chain of custody to be assessed other than for its certification services.

113. The certification body should ensure that different personnel conduct the certification decision and the certification assessments.

114. The certifying body should not delegate authority for granting, maintaining, extending, reducing, suspending or withdrawing certification to an outside person or body.

Non-discrimination

115. Access to the services of the certification body should be open to all types of fisheries whether managed by a regional, governmental, parastatal or non-governmental fisheries management organizations or arrangement. Access to certification should not be conditional upon the size or scale of the fishery nor should certification be conditional upon the number of fisheries already certified.

Human and financial resources

116. The certification body should have adequate financial resources and stability for the operation of a certification system and should maintain appropriate arrangements to cover liabilities arising from its operations and/or activities.

117. The certification body should employ a sufficient number of personnel having the necessary education, training, technical knowledge and experience for performing conformity and/or chain of custody assessments in fisheries.

118. Information on the relevant qualifications, training and experience of each member of the personnel involved in the certification process should be maintained by the certification body. Record of training and experience should be kept to date.

119. When a certification body decides to sub-contract work related to certification to an external body or person, the requirements for such an external body should be no less than for the certification body itself. A properly documented contractual or equivalent agreement covering the arrangements including confidentiality and conflict of interests, should be drawn up.

Accountability and reporting

120. The certification body should be a legal entity and have clear and effective procedures for handling applications for certification of the fishery and/or the chain of custody. In particular, the certification body should maintain and provide to the applicants and certified entities:

- a detailed description of the assessment and certification procedure;

- the documents containing the requirements for certification;

- the documents describing the rights and duties of certified entities.

121. A properly documented contractual or equivalent agreement describing the rights and duties of each party should be drafted between the certification body and its clients.

122. The certification body should have:

- defined objectives and commitment to quality;

- policies and procedures for quality documented in a quality manual;

- an established effective, appropriate system for quality.

123. The certification body should conduct periodic internal audits covering all procedures in a planned and systematic manner to verify that the certification system is implemented and effective.

124. The certification body may receive external audits on relevant aspects. The results of the audits should be accessible by the public.

125. The certification body should have a policy and procedures for retaining records for a period consistent with its contractual, legal or other obligations. The records should demonstrate that the certification procedures have been effectively fulfilled, particularly with respect to application forms, assessment reports and other documents relating to granting, maintaining, extending, reducing, suspending or withdrawing certification. The records should be identified, managed and disposed of in such a way as to ensure the integrity of the process and confidentiality of the information.

126. The certification body should ensure that, in the event of changes, all affected parties are notified.

127. The certification body should make appropriate documents available on request.

Certification Fees

128. The certification body should maintain a written fee structure for applicants and certified fisheries which should be available on request. In establishing the fee structure and in determining the specific fee of a certification assessment, the certification body should take into account, inter alia, the requirements for accurate and truthful assessments, the scale, size and complexity of the fishery or chain of custody, the requirement of non-discrimination of any client, and the special circumstances and requirements of developing countries and countries in transition.

Confidentiality

129. The certification body should have adequate arrangements, consistent with applicable laws, to safeguard confidentiality of the information obtained in the course of its certification at all levels of its organization.

130. Where the law requires information to be disclosed to a third party, the client should be informed of the information provided, as permitted by the law. Otherwise information about a particular product or fishery should not be disclosed to a third party without a written consent of the client.

Maintenance of Certification

131. The certification body should carry out periodic surveillance and monitoring at sufficiently close intervals to verify that certified fisheries and/or certified chains of custody continue to comply with the certification requirements.

132. The certification body should require the client to notify it promptly of any intended changes to the management of the fishery, or the chain of custody, or other changes which may affect conformity.

133. The certificate body should have procedures to conduct reassessments in the event of changes significantly affecting the status and management of the certified fishery, or the chain of custody, or if analysis of a complaint or any other information indicates that the certified fishery and/or the chain of custody no longer comply with the required standard and/or related requirements of the certification body.

134. The period of validity of a certificate should not exceed five years in the case of a fishery and three years in the case of the chain of custody. The assessment required for re-certification should give particular attention to changes that have been made in the conduct of the fishery or in the management practices, and on any new conditions that changes in standards might require.

Renewal of Certification

135. On the basis of prior regular monitoring and auditing exercises and a full reassessment, the validity of certification can be renewed up to the time limits of five years in the case of a fishery and three years in the case of the chain of custody.

Suspension and Withdrawal of Certification

136. The certification body should specify the conditions under which certification may be suspended or withdrawn, partially or in total, for all or part of the scope of certification.

137. The certification body should require that a certified fishery and/or chain of custody upon suspension or withdrawal of its certification (however determined), discontinues use of all advertising matter that contains any reference thereto and returns any certification documents as required by the certification body. The certification body should also be responsible for informing the public about the withdrawal or suspension after the appeals process is exhausted.

Maintaining the Chain of Custody

138. Chain of custody procedures are implemented at the key points of transfer. At each point of transfer, which may vary according to the type of fish or fishery product traded, all certified fish or fishery products must be identified and/or segregated from non-certified fish or fishery products.

139. The certification body should ensure that a recipient of certified fish or fishery products should maintain pertinent chain of custody records, including all records relating to shipment, receipt and invoicing.

140. The certification body should have documented procedures defining auditing methods and periodicity of audits. The periodicity of audits should depend on:

- the technical processes undertaken at the point of transfer;

- such risk factors as the value and volume of the certified output.

141. Any breach or apparent breach of the chain of custody identified during an inspection/audit should be explicitly recorded in the inspection/audit report together with:

- an explanation of the factors that allowed the breach to occur;

- an explanation of the corrective actions taken or required to ensure that a similar breach does not re-occur.

142. All inspection/audit records should be incorporated into a written inspection/audit report that is available to pertinent parties and filed at the certification body office.

143. The inspection/audit report should contain as a minimum:

- the date of the inspection/audit;

- the name(s) of the person(s) responsible for the report;

- the names and addresses of the sites inspected/audited;

- the scope of the inspection/audit;

- comments on the conformity of the client with the chain of custody requirements.

Use and Control of a Certification Claim, Symbol or a Logo

144. The certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme should have documented procedures describing the requirements, restrictions or limitations on the use of symbols or logos indicating that a fish or fishery product comes from a sustainable fishery. In particular, the ecolabelling scheme is required to ensure that symbols or logos should not relate to claims that are of no relevance for sustainable fisheries and could cause barriers of trade or mislead the consumer.

145. The certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme should not issue any license to affix its mark/claim/logo or issue any certificate for any fishery or fishery product unless it is assured that the product bearing it is in fact produced from certified sources.

146. The certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme is responsible that no fraudulent or misleading use is made with the use and display of its certification mark and logos.

147. If the certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme confers the right to use a symbol or logo to indicate certification, the fishery and any fish or fishery product from such fishery may use the specified symbol or logo only as authorized in writing by it.

148. The certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme should take suitable action to deal with incorrect references to the certification system or misleading use of symbols and logos found in advertisements, catalogues, etc.

149. All certificates issued should include:

- the name and address of the accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme;

- the name and address of the certification body;

- the name and address of the certification holder;

- the effective date of issue of the certificate;

- the substance of the certificate;

- the term for which the certification is valid;

- signature of the issuing officer.

Resolution of complaints and appeals

150. The accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme should have a written policy and procedures, applicable to accredited certification bodies, for dealing with any complaints and appeals from involved parties in relation to any aspect of certification or de-certification. Such procedures should be timely, clearly define the scope and nature of appeals that will be considered and should be open only to parties involved in, or consulted, during the assessment. [Costs of appeals should be borne by the appellant.]

151. The procedures should include an independent and impartial committee to respond to any complaint. If possible, the committee should attempt to resolve any complaint through discussion or conciliation. If this is not possible, the committee should provide a written finding to the certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme as appropriate, which should transmit the finding to the party or parties involved.

[152. Where the finding does not resolve the matter, the certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme as appropriate should allow that the appellant take an appeal concerning the conformity assessment to the independent panel.]

153. The above does not exclude recourse to other forms of legal and administrative processes as provided for in national legislation or international law.

[Independent Panel

Establishment

154. If a party to a complaint or a government entity affected by a decision or finding object to the finding of the independent committee, the party or entity may request in writing that FAO convene an independent panel. The request for the establishment of an independent panel should identify the matter at issue and provide a brief summary of the basis of the appeal sufficient to present the problem clearly. The basis of an appeal shall be that the appellant believes that the finding of the highest independent committee in the system of an ecolabelling scheme in applying the facts of the case to the procedures, standards, requirements and criteria of such ecolabelling scheme, was so flawed that the finding should be reversed.

Terms of reference

155. Terms of reference for the panel should be developed by it. The terms of reference should also establish the working procedures, including on timetable for the panel process and communication with the panel, or prescribe how such procedures should be established.

Composition

156. Panels should be composed of well-qualified individuals with appropriate experience and background including individuals with experience in the certification of fisheries. Panel members should be selected with a view to ensuring the independence and objectivity of the members and they should not have any vested interests in the matter at hand. The panel members will participate in the panel in their individual capacities and will not take instructions from any of the parties to the appeal. [To assist in the selection of panel members FAO shall maintain a roster of individuals experienced in the certification of fisheries]. The Panel should be composed of three members. FAO should propose nominations for the panel, promptly inform the parties to the appeal of the nominations and give the parties a possibility to comment on the nominations. The panel will be served by an FAO Secretariat composed of a technical Secretary and a Rapporteur.

Functions

157. The function of the panel is to make an objective ruling on the conformity of the certified fishery with the principles, criteria and standards of the ecolabelling scheme in question.

Procedures

158. Panel procedures should provide sufficient flexibility so as to ensure high-quality panel rulings, while not unduly delaying the panel process. As a general rule it should not take more than 6 months from the date of the submission of the written request by the appealing party to the date of the final ruling.

Confidentiality

159. The panel should have adequate arrangements, consistent with applicable law, to safeguard confidentiality of the information obtained in the course of the handling of an appeal submitted to it.

Communication

160. The panel should set precise deadlines for written submissions by the parties to the appeal and the parties should respect those deadlines. The written submissions should be deposited with FAO for immediate transmission to the panel and the other party or parties to the appeal.

Expenses

161. All expenses of the FAO and the independent panel incurred by way of convening and holding the independent panel shall be borne by the [appellant, disregarding the outcome of the appeal]. If FAO so requires the [appellant] shall make a deposit to FAO, of such sum as may be specified, in advance of any action taken to convene or hold the independent panel.

Keeping of records on complaints and appeals concerning certification

162. The certification body, accreditation body or owner of the ecolabelling scheme should:

a) keep a record of all complaints and appeals, and remedial actions related to certification

b) take appropriate corrective and preventive action

c) assess the effectiveness of remedial actions

d) safeguard confidentiality of information obtained during the investigation and resolution of complaints and appeals concerning certification.

163. Information on procedures for handling of complaints and appeals concerning certification should be made publicly available.]

BACK COVER

The Technical Consultation on International Guidelines for Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries was convened by FAO at the request of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries (Rome, 24 - 28 February 2003) and the ninth session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (Bremen, 10 - 14 February 2004). The Consultation was attended by fifty-seven Members of FAO and by observers from four intergovernmental and nine international non-governmental organizations.

The Consultation stressed the benefits of internationally agreed guidelines aimed at avoiding the misuse of ecolabelling schemes through, inter alia, preventing them becoming barriers to trade. In the course of in-depth discussions, the Consultation was able to make good progress in completing the guidelines, in particular the part dealing with the procedural and institutional aspects of ecolabelling schemes. The Consultation nevertheless acknowledged that more work was still necessary on, inter alia, terms and definitions and the minimum substantive requirements and criteria. It therefore recommended that a two days meeting be convened immediately before the twenty-sixth session of COFI in early March 2005.