A new UK-wide award scheme aimed at recognising excellence in seafood production was launched yesterday by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish).
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The Seafish Quality Processor award seeks to drive up standards by rewarding companies providing good quality seafood produced in a first class environment.
Seafood processing is a multi-million pound industry which supports around 540 businesses and employs more than 21,000 people. The Quality Processor award is tailored in particular towards small to medium-sized businesses operating in the first stage of this processing chain.
Seafish Chief Executive John Rutherford said: “Consumption of seafood is on the up with a steady rise of 6% in sales in recent years. To satisfy this demand, we must meet the highest standards of production.
“The Seafish Quality Processor award helps do that by setting a recognized UK standard that is independently audited and geared towards the 21st century marketplace.
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By GlobalData“The award will not only help drive up standards throughout the chain, it’s also an important marketing tool. Running a small processing business is fiercely competitive and our message to managers is to be a part of it as maintaining standards will help put your business a step ahead.”
Seafish will give expert advice to companies to help them prepare for the award and is investing almost a quarter of a million pounds over the next three years to establish the scheme and grant-aid audit costs for successful companies.
A panel of industry experts helped Seafish pull together the standard which has been widely welcomed by industry. In Scotland, the Scottish Fish processing Action Group has made additional funding available to assist companies prepare for the award and Seafood Scotland has endorsed it.
Robert Milne, Secretary of the Scottish Fish Merchants’ Federation said: “Our processing industry works hard to ensure that it meets the high standards expected of a modern food business. Now with this award, they have the opportunity to be recognised for their efforts at a national level.”
Mike Mitchell, Technical Manager at Young’s Bluecrest Seafood Limited said the award was ‘a significant step forward’ for the fish processing industry in the UK.
“The award scheme offers the fish processing industry an independently audited technical benchmark, and is of particular significance to small to medium sized businesses within the supply chain which are servicing the major retail and food service markets.
“This is an affordable and attainable accreditation option for a large part of the fish processing industry and Young’s Bluecrest Seafood Ltd will actively encourage our suppliers of primary fish products to become participants in this scheme. “
To qualify for the award, each processor will go through an independent audit covering all aspects of the factory’s operation including premises, machinery and equipment, hygiene standards and management controls. The award scheme has two levels – entry level and higher level – to encourage continuous improvement. All those who qualify for the award receive a certificate and are entitled to use the processor logo to promote business.
