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There is growing recognition of the importance that product certification can play in aquaculture. This applies both to the marketing of aquaculture products as well as providing confirmation of the provenance of the product in terms of its food quality and safety aspects but also in encouraging the implementation of high standards of good practice throughout the industry.

The importance of the role of certification of aquaculture products has long been understood by the Scottish farmed salmon industry which was perhaps one of the first aquaculture sectors to apply quality marks to their product.

Currently, approximately 65% or 80,000 tonnes of the total Scottish production is inspected and certified as part of the Product Certification Schemes for Scottish Quality Farmed Salmon which are operated by FCS Ltd.

Participation in the Schemes obliges the salmon farmers, packers, processors and smokers involved to adhere to rigorous standards and working practices that have been set and regularly reviewed by an independently chaired Technical Standards Committee. These standards are deliberately set to be more stringent than the standard codes of practice used by producers who are out with the schemes. The benefit to the participants of the Schemes has been the development of a product that has consistently drawn a premium price within the market place, a product that can be backed up with justifiable claims as to its provenance, quality, traceability and food safety characteristics.

All this costs money, with the implementation and operation of product certification schemes adding an additional cost burden to the sector concerned. When prices are depressed and profitability hard to come by this additional cost can provide a significant restraint to a sector considering the implementation of a product certification scheme.

Consideration to the provision of financial assistance via FIFG support, in particular with the research and implementation phases of product certification schemes, would provide a useful stimulus for the industry to embrace the aims of the EU strategy which encourages a wider use of official quality marks.