Processors given remote auditing option by BAP
The Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification programme is rolling out remote auditing for its Seafood Processing Standard.
It follows the implementation of accredited remote auditing for farms, hatcheries and feed mills early this year, and means processing plants now have a pathway to certification through three audit opportunities: onsite audits (full or partial), full remote audits or enhanced remote audits.
Remote audits were introduced to mitigate certification disruptions caused by measures to limit the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pilot projects
The GAA began developing accredited remote auditing procedures for its seafood supply chain standards in April, in cooperation with accreditation bodies and in collaboration with certification bodies.
Beyond innovative remote audit methodology applied for the farm, hatchery and feed mill standards, specific new policies, procedures, requirements, timelines, questionnaires, audit checklist guidance and training materials were also developed specifically for processing plant remote auditing.
As of October 2, BAP had conducted 324 remote audits (214 farms, 68 hatcheries, 36 feed mills and six processing plant pilot projects), the majority of which were done in Southeast Asia, Latin America and North America.
