BAP's new feed mill standard has been revamped in response to growing demand for sustainable farmed seafood. Photo: BAP.

Public asked to comment on new fish feed standard

Aquaculture certification body Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) has made its updated feed mill standard available for public comment until January 20 next year.

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A technical committee led by Professor Ron Hardy of the University of Idaho revamped the standard in response to growing demand for sustainable farmed seafood.

The requirements for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based feed safety and the ethical treatment of employees have been greatly expanded.

Marine ingredients

The standard continues to address the responsible sourcing of feed ingredients, but the requirements for marine inputs and key terrestrial inputs, including soy and palm oil, have been strengthened.

New requirements have also been added relating to energy usage, water usage and to antioxidants, which BAP says will ensure that the standard retains its place as the leading standard for responsible aquafeed production.

“All interested stakeholders are invited to comment, and all properly submitted comments will be acknowledged,” said BAP standards coordinator Dan Lee. “This ensures that the final standard benefits from the most broad-based input possible.”

Supply chain

BAP, a division of the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain - farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills - that assure healthy foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means.

Certification is based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with the BAP standards developed by GAA.

To comment, download the BAP Feed Mill Standard Issue 3.0 comment form found here and submit the form to dan.lee@aquaculturealliance.org and david.yunker@bapcertification.org.