delivering the assurance of quality
  About us    Certification Schemes - Aquaculture    Inspection Services - Aquaculture    Marine Stewardship Council    Links    Contact    Members  

 
Promoting Excellence in the Food Industry

 
News & Info
 
Food Certification Scotland set for new growth following management buyout

FCS has successfully completed a management buyout that will provide us with a strong platform for diversification into new areas of operation in future.

The buyout from the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation will further strengthen the independence of FCS and enable is to diversify the inspection and certification services we offers across a broad range of standards relevant to the aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing sectors.

It will also enable FCS to move into other sectors of the aquaculture, agriculture and food industries through both the provision of tailored product quality schemes as well as certification to other recognised standards, including the British Retail Consortium Global Food Standard, EurepGAP and Environmental Management Systems.

Martin Gill, FCS executive director, said: “This is great news for FCS and provides an excellent opportunity to really diversify our scope of operation. There is now a huge amount of interest from food producers from all sectors in achieving conformity with recognised standards and voluntary codes of good practice to satisfy both customer and consumer demand for provenance, sustainability and environmental responsibility.”

As well as Scotland, FCS also operates throughout the rest of the UK and internationally through its subsidiary Food Certification International Ltd (FCI).

Currently in the process of becoming fully accredited as a certification body for the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries as well as their chain of custody standards. FCI is currently working with major Swedish fishing company Astrid Fiske AB and associated processing companies on their progress through full MSC assessment of the Swedish North Sea herring purse seine fishery.

Also recently confirmed is FCI’s appointment as the certification body for the full MSC assessment of the North Sea herring and Western mackerel fisheries on behalf of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group. These two fisheries constitute the two largest fisheries in the UK both in terms of tonnage and value. Several other fisheries are also currently undergoing pre-assessment by FCI to the MSC standards.

Martin Gill said: “There is significant interest from fisheries across the world in gaining MSC certification and we see this as potentially becoming a major focus of our operation over the coming years alongside our existing extensive expertise and commitment to the aquaculture and seafood processing sectors.

“Specialist providers of inspection and certification to the aquaculture, fisheries and seafood sectors are few and far between and we are working towards seeing a growing number of companies take advantage of our specialist knowledge and services in these areas.”


 LR tagged Salmon being held by KB
 
 
Food safety, traceability, environmental care and animal welfare are, together with product quality and consistency, key drivers in the modern food chain.

Food Certification (Scotland) Ltd (FCS), operating on a not for profit basis, is the independent body, committed to helping primary producers and processors deliver these assurances to consumers through the verification of product certification schemes for fishery, food, agricultural and environmental products.

One of the first operators in the food assurance field, FCS works actively with primary producers and food processors who not only conform to but exceed legal compliance with the Food Safety Act to produce fresh and processed food products to strict production and manufacturing protocols.

The additional quality, safety, environmental and traceability guarantees which certification provides, enhances retailer and consumer confidence and allows them to meet ever stricter consumer demands and compete effectively in today’s demanding marketplace.