GSA Releases Seafood Processing Standard Version 6.0

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Nov 08, 2024, 09:36 ET

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) is pleased to announce the official release of the Seafood Processing Standard (SPS) version 6.0.

Key features of the standard include a restructured modular framework built around core food safety requirements covering both farm-raised and wild-caught seafood, ten separate modules to accommodate the specific production processes and products at individual facilities, and enhanced data capture, reporting and assessment technologies.

A worker filleting salmon in a processing facility.

This new framework was designed specifically to improve audit efficiencies, provide elevated assurances for farm-raised and wild-caught seafood to consumers, and create a more customized, comprehensive certification option for seafood processors globally.

The SPS framework is as follows:

SPS 6.0 core, designed to meet Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements

The ten modules include:

Animal Welfare – For facilities involved and/or responsible for live animals and slaughter
Effluent Discharge – For non-remote wild processors discharging to natural water sources
Enhanced Social – Unannounced, requires specialized social and technical audit team, designed to meet Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) requirements
Finished Product Testing – Requires product testing for medium to high-risk facilities
Low Acid Canned Foods – For thermal processing and low acid canned products
Outsourcing – For facilities enlisting outsourced activities
Product Identity – For facilities making claims related to Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) or Best Seafood Practices (BSP) certification
Ready to Eat – For facilities producing RTE products
Remote Wild-Caught Environmental – For wild processors located in remote environments
Social Responsibility – Required for facilities that not electing the Enhanced Social module

GSA will conduct a webinar on Thursday, December 5 introducing key features of SPS 6.0 and its new audit and reporting processes, including a live Q&A session. Interested parties may register for the webinar here. A recording of the webinar will be sent to all registrants.

GSA will begin accepting all applications to SPS 6.0 in mid-2025 and fully replace Issue 5.1 beginning November 5, 2025. Pilots are underway; if you're interested in getting audited to SPS 6.0, please reach out to the GSA team via this page.

SOURCE Global Seafood Alliance