Who - Members of the National Fisheries Institute have taken a pledge to stamp out economic fraud in the seafood industry. And they need your help.
All members of NFI have pledged to follow the rules and not sell seafood that is short weight or count, that has the wrong name, or that has been transshipped to circumvent duties and tariffs.
What - To put some teeth to the pledge, the Better Seafood Board (BSB) has been established, independent from National Fisheries Institute. The BSB provides a mechanism for industry's partners in the supply chain - restaurants, retail operations, further manufacturers - to report suppliers committing economic fraud.
Why - Suppliers who cheat customers cheat the entire industry. And suppliers, restaurants and retailers who follow the rules often get penalized in the marketplace. Fair and lawful business practices are essential for ensuring consumer confidence in seafood. The entire supply chain is dependant on maintaining this confidence.
How - You, as a customer of the seafood industry, are a vital link for the success of the Better Seafood Board. If you find that your business has been sold product that had a short weight or count, was misidentified as to species, or identified with an incorrect country of origin to get around having to pay duties, it is up to you to first try to resolve the issue with your supplier. If you can't resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you now have another course of action - The Better Seafood Board. A call-center has been established to take your call and work with you to document the situation of economic fraud. The Better Seafood Board will then determine the next course of action. All with a single goal in mind - maintaining consumer trust in seafood.
Guidelines For Using The Better Seafood Board Logo and Link
To receive the BSB logo, contact Lisa Weddig.
FDA Publishes Guidance to Acceptable Market Names for Seafood
FDA has posted on the agency's website an updated guidance on acceptable market names for seafood and an updated, searchable Seafood List. The guidance document is intended to provide guidance to industry about what FDA considers to be acceptable market names for seafood sold in interstate commerce and to assist manufacturers in labeling seafood products. The Seafood List provides information to assist manufacturers in properly labeling seafood and to reflect the acceptable market names of new species introduced into the U.S. marketplace. Included in the guidance document is a section outlining the principles for determining acceptable market names which outlines FDA thinking in evaluated whether or not a name is an acceptable market name. We encourage you to share this FDA Guidance Document and updated Seafood List with your suppliers and customers to support your commitment to ensuring that your products are correctly labeled with species identity.
FDA States that “White Roughy” not Acceptable Market Name for Basa
NFI received a letter from FDA this past week clarifying the agency’s policy for the use of the term “white roughy” for basa fish. The letter states that “white roughy” is not an acceptable market name for basa or any fish in the Pangasidae family as it would be misleading to the consumer. Please feel to forward a copy of the letter to your suppliers and customers. If you are aware of restaurants or retailers using the term “white roughy” and would like the Better Seafood Board to follow up with the company please send the contact information to Lisa Weddig.
NW Offers on Seafood (XLS)
Better Seafood Board Backgrounder (PDF)
Are your Profits on the Line (PDF)
Is Your reputation on the Line (PDF)
The Who, What, Why, and How of the BSB (PDF)
List of Better Seafood Board Companies
