What We Do

Certification

What We Do

Certification

Certification is verification that processors and vessels are following best practices to deliver wild seafood safely and responsibly. The Best Seafood Practices program address food safety, social accountability, and environmental responsibility.

Why choose BSP
Certification

Responsible

The program is focused on social accountability, certifying high standards of vessel and processor management including worker rights, safety systems, and well-being

Unique

BSP has the only vessel level certification available on a global scale

Benchmarked

SPS is currently benchmarked to GSFI and RFVS will be independently validated by pursuing relevent third-party benchmarking and accreditation

Endorsed

The BSP program is endorsed by retail and foodservice operators worldwide. Check out our list of Partners here

Transparent

Thorough and transparent standards development process in compliance with ISO requirements

Resourceful

BSP certified producers gain GSA membership status as part of their certification and have access to a variety of tools and resources from GSA

Seafood Processing
Standard

The Seafood Processing Standard (SPS) is the only seafood-specific processing plant standard that is compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP).

The SPS audit provides complete coverage on key issues important to you and your customers, including food safety, environmental responsibility and social accountability. SPS provides seafood processors with comprehensive assurances through a credible third-party certification program. Certification requires 100% compliance with all standard clauses, reducing complexity and the need to follow up on nonconformities.

Responsible Fishing
Vessel Standard

The Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard enables fishing operations to provide assurances of decent working conditions and operational best practices from catch to shore. The standard was created through a rigorous and transparent development process in compliance with the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) requirements. Input was incorporated from all sectors of the global seafood industry: catching, processing, retail, standard holders, and non-government organizations (NGOs).

Today’s marketplace needs assurance that their seafood supply chains are free of human rights abuses; that fishing crews are treated fairly, trained appropriately, and are working in safe conditions with payment, meals and rest time provided. RFVS provides these assurances and is the only vessel-level certification available on a global scale.

Responsible Fishery

The BSP program defines responsible fishery as a fishery that has been certified by a scheme that is benchmarked to the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI). GSSI’s Global Benchmark Tool provides formal recognition of seafood certification schemes that successfully complete a rigorous and transparent benchmark process, underpinned by the FAO Guidelines. The tool aims to minimize the overall environmental impact of how we produce, catch and supply seafood to meet a growing global demand.

Certification Timeline

Average completion time: 120 - 150 days

Complete BSP Application & Submit

Pay Audit Fee

Payment is processed in 1 - 2 days

Schedule Audit

Certification Body (CB) will call to schedule (within 14 days)

Audit Starts

Audit is Complete

Program Fee Billed

Nonconformity report is issued followed by a Program Fee invoice

Corrective action evidence due

Evidence due in 28 days — accepted by CB within 35 days

CB Technical Review

May take up to 60 days from the completion of the onsite audit

Pay Program Fee

Final report/certificate issued by BSP

BSP Certificate Issued!

Official member of GSA

Gain access to marketing materials & resources and other benefits from GSA

Become part of the BSP community!

Access tools, resources, marketing materials, and connections to the international marketplace

PAS 1550 Code
of Practice

PAS (Publicly Available Specification) was developed to work along side existing regulations to help industry assess and mitigate the risks posed by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in their supply chains. The standards developed as part of the BSP program fully and partially meet greater than 85% of PAS requirements

Questions about getting certified?