« January 2009 Table of Contents 
News Line: FDA tabs GAA, ACC for pilot program
Third-party certification groups under microscope
- James Wright
January 01, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December announced
a list of international certification agencies, including the
Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and the Aquaculture
Certification Council (ACC), that will participate in its pilot
program aimed at increasing the safety of imported farmed
shrimp.
Part of President Bush's Action Plan for Import Safety, the
pilot program, which will run through June 2009, will assist
the FDA in moving toward broader recognition of voluntary
third-party certification programs.
St. Louis-based GAA developed a set of farmed-seafood
standards called Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP). The BAP are
licensed by the ACC of Kirkland, Wash., which carries out
inspection and certification duties. BAP standards address
environmental and social responsibility, animal welfare, food
safety and traceability for shrimp farms and hatcheries,
tilapia and channel catfish farms and seafood processing
plants.
"We believe this pilot study holds great promise for
increased food safety and could prove effective in helping the
FDA enhance its existing efforts," says GAA Executive Director
Wally Stevens.
Other organizations the FDA selected to participate in the
program include Bureau Veritas Group of Antwerp, Belgium;
Inspectorate America Corp. of Houston; SGS United States
Testing Co. of Rutherford, N.J.; Seafood Inspection Service,
National Marine Fisheries Service; and the Thailand Department
of Fisheries.
The pilot program responds to a recommendation in the
President's Action Plan for Import Safety, issued in November
2007, which called for the development of voluntary third-party
certification programs for foreign producers who export to the
United States.
The FDA's Food Protection Plan, also issued last November,
emphasizes qualified and legitimate third-party certification
as a way to help verify the safety of products from both
foreign and domestic food companies. - J.W.