Certifications

The Food and Drug Administration

FDA Registered Facility - Per the 2002 Bioterrorism Act and 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) the AFS facility must re-register every 2 years with the FDA. This registration permits the FDA to conduct announced visits/audits of the food production facility. The facility’s FDA registration number is kept with QA and available upon request.

HACCP

Atlantic Fish is HACCP food safety compliant. That means we adhere to strict processing, packaging and distribution practices to prevent the contamination of our seafood products. Hazard analysis and critical control points or HACCP is a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes that can cause the finished product to be unsafe. The HACCP system can be used at all stages of a food chain, from food production and preparation processes including packaging and distribution. The seafood application HACCP is controlled by the FDA.

United States Department of Commerce Voluntary Seafood Inspection Program (USDC SIP)

United States Department of Commerce Voluntary Seafood Inspection Program (USDC SIP) – AFS has a contract with the USDC as part of the Voluntary Seafood Inspection program. This allows the USDC to come in for quarterly unannounced audits of the AFS facility to inspect the quality inspection procedures, food safety systems, HACCP Plans, facility condition and system compliance. Passing these audits allows AFS to produce and label USDC Graded products, including Grade A7 and PUFI8 .

Safe Quality Food

Safe Quality Food (SQF) Food Safety Certificate – A GFSI1 benchmarked food safety and quality auditing standard. An annual audit is conducted for re-certification and every 3 years the audit is unannounced. SQF audits all of the facility’s systems including food safety, quality, HACCP6, business continuity and good manufacturing practices (GMP’s)5. For a royalty fee, the company is able to utilize the SQF shield on product.

Best Aquaculture Practices

Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Certificate – A GFSI1 benchmarked food safety and quality auditing standard from the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) focusing on aquaculture (farm raised) seafood products. The BAP shield is a star rating system2 for products, ranging from 1-4 sequentially star certified products, based on the parts of the supply chain that are BAP audited and certified. Having this certification allows AFS to maintain the BAP shield and stars on certified BAP product that AFS re-processes as a secondary processor4. The audit also has a significant employee rights and social responsibility portion.

Marine Stewardship Council

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certificate – A sustainability centered chain of custody audit certification. MSC certifies wild fisheries (Ex. Alaskan Pollock, NA Lobster) through stock and quota analysis. MSC then certifies the chain of custody for all processors in the supply chain to ensure they properly track MSC labeled product through the supply chain. AFS has had its policies, procedures, and traceability validated through audit, allowing us to process MSC product and maintain the MSC logo on the finished product packaging.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Certificate – A sustainability centered chain of custody audit certification. ASC certifies seafood farms that are vetted through audit to be socially and environmentally responsible in their production of farm raised seafood products. ASC then certifies the chain of custody for all processors in the supply chain to ensure they properly track ASC labeled product through the supply chain. AFS has had its policies, procedures, and traceability validated through audit, allowing us to process ASC product and maintain the ASC logo on the finished product packaging.