Labels You May See in Europe
Shrimp Seal of Quality
Shrimp
Seal of Quality is a certification system for shrimp produced in
Bangladesh, and arose in response to serious food safety problems
within the country’s shrimp industry. Their standards
describe the requirements that must be met by hatcheries, farmers,
transporters and processors. Although this program has resulted in
several positive improvements in Bangladesh’s shrimp production,
shortcomings within the program can be viewed in a report
submitted to the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2005.
Shrimp Seal of Quality-certified shrimp do not claim to be organic.
Thai Quality Shrimp
Thai Quality Shrimp is a certification system prepared by Thailand’s Department of Fisheries and produces shrimp under their Codes of Conduct. These codes were developed in accordance with the Food and Agricultural Organization’s Article 9
for Responsible Fisheries and the International Standard’s Organization
14001, which is a standard for environmental management. The
certification covers hatcheries, farms, processing plants and
distributors and does not claim to be organic.
Soil Association
The Soil Association is the UK’s largest organic certification body whose standards
do not allow antibiotics or genetically modified fish or feed. However,
they perform their own certification. They address fish welfare, but
not labor issues. Soil Association-certified shrimp claim to be organic.
Carrefour Quality Line Shrimp
France-based Carrefour is the largest retail corporation in all of Europe and second largest in the world. They are involved in the fair-trade of Carrefour Quality Line Shrimp, although actual criteria for the standards are unclear. Carrefour does, however, claim that the Quality Line commitments include quality, fair compensation for producers, taste and sustainability.