The Certification Programme
The Iceland Responsible Fisheries programme is the direct result of pro-active discussions and interaction with fishermen, packers, processors, markets, regulators, standards and certification experts. Plans for the certification of Icelandic fisheries were officially announced by the Fisheries Association of Iceland in October 2008.
The FAO-ISO based Iceland Responsible Fisheries Management Programme is based on the Articles and minimum substantive criteria described in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and FAO Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products.
Requirements for certification
The requirements for the certification of a fishery are:
- Adoption and implementation of a structured fisheries management system. The objective is to limit the total annual catch (TAC) from the fish stocks so that catches confirm to levels permitted by the relevant authorities.
- Fish stock shall not be overfished and this shall be verified through scientific research and assessment by international experts.
- Implementation of an effective legal and administrative framework for the fishery, with compliance ensured through effective mechanisms for monitoring, surveillance, control and enforcement.
- Effects of the fishery on the ecosystem are limited by the application of a specified approach.
The certification confirms:
- Responsible fisheries management
- Good treatment of marine resources
International standards
The certification programme complies with the strictest international standards. It is based on the articles and minimum substantive criteria described in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and FAO Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products. These documents have been translated into straightforward ‘FAO-Based Conformance Criteria’ for fishery assessment. The Conformance Criteria used for Icelandic Fisheries and the Certification methodology is accredited by an IAF Accreditation Body (a member of the International Accreditation Forum) to the international standard for certification EN45011 / ISO 65. The Criteria are formulated from existing publically available documents principally, developed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). These three main normative documents are:
- The 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF),
- The 2005 FAO Guidelines for Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries (& 2009 extensions) and,
- The 1996 FAO John Caddy Checklist.
Collectively, these FAO documents provide the basis of the scope of fishery certification and the technical requirements that a fishery must be able to demonstrate to become certified. The FAO Committee on Fisheries has provided a global, multi-stakeholder process for the documentation of the content of the FAO CCRF and the later, FAO Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries.
A Fisheries Management specification has been developed by the Icelandic Technical Committee. which acts as a tool for Fisheries in the evaluation of fisheries to the FAO-Based Responsible Fisheries Management Certification Programme.
Third-party certification
Global Trust Certification Ltd. is independently managing the certification and assessment methodology that is used to assess and certify Icelandic fisheries against the Icelandic specification.
Read more about Global Trust's role in the IRF programme.
Programme updates
May 2011: Haddock, Saithe and Golden Redfish enter certification process
Three more Icelandic fisheries have now made application to the Iceland Responsible Fisheries certification programme. The collective interests in Icelandic Haddock, Saithe and Golden Redfish have submitted applications to have their fisheries assessed under the Programme. Applications were received by the independent certification body, Global Trust, from stakeholders in the fishing industry in Iceland; The Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (LÍÚ), The Federation of Icelandic Fish Processing Plants (SF) and The National Association of Small Boat Owners, Iceland (NASBO). These stakeholders are united under the Iceland Responsible Fisheries Foundation. Global Trust has initiated a review in order to validate each application for full assessment purposes.
Download the press release (pdf)
Application - Saithe (pdf)
Application - Haddock (pdf)
Application - Golden Redfish (pdf)
15 December 2010: Cod fisheries Certified
Icelandic cod received certification 15 December 2010. This is an important, and historic milestone for Iceland's seafood industry and confirmation that the fishery for the nation's most valuable fish stock is well managed.
November 2010: Stakeholders in the Icelandic cod fisheries value chain can start applying for RFM Chain of Custody certification.
Global Trust announced in September 2010 that the following fishery has successfully completed the Assessment Validation Reporting Step of the FAO based Icelandic Responsible Fisheries Management Certification Program. Unit of Certification: The Icelandic cod within 200 mile EEZ fished by all Icelandic registered vessels using all gear types directly and indirectly under the management of the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.
