BAP Seafood at Hitachi Cafeterias Marks Official Launch of BAP in Japan
Japanese major electronics manufacturer Hitachi and Seiyo Food-Compass Group recently introduced shrimp and pangasius from Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)-certified facilities to employee cafeterias in Hitachi’s Ikebukuro, Japan, service center, the first time that BAP seafood has been marketed as such in Japan.
As part of its commitment to align its food sourcing policies with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Hitachi is working with its food service provider, Seiyo Food-Compass Group, to source seafood originating from BAP-certified processing plants and farms. Hitachi is committed to serve BAP seafood at its employee cafeterias once a month. Seiyo Food is one of Japan’s largest foodservice providers.
“The importance of sustainable seafood sourcing policies is rapidly progressing in Japan. That’s why we are excited to make this the first official launch of BAP in the Japanese market,” said GAA VP Steve Hart, who is leading GAA’s marketing efforts in Asia. “Through strong cooperation with Seafood Legacy, Hitachi and Seiyo Food, we were able to offer sustainably produced pangasius and shrimp to Hitachi employees in their cafeteria. Forward thinking companies like Hitachi and Seiyo-Food recognize the importance of strong partnerships with sustainability organizations and the assurances offered by independent certification programs like BAP. We look forward to a long relationship growing sustainability acceptance in Japan with these partners.”
Seafood Legacy Co. Ltd. is Japan-based consultancy that works with seafood related businesses to promote sustainable seafood. GAA has been working together with Seafood Legacy to promote sustainable seafood supply chains in Japan.
“We are very proud of this collaborative initiative. Businesses in Japan are becoming more proactive towards achieving SDGs as Tokyo Olympic Paralympic Games approach and seafood sustainability is quickly becoming a hot topic in the industry. We are proud to support these leading initiatives in Japan,” said Seafood Legacy CEO Wakao Hanaoka.
Administered by GAA, BAP is the world’s most comprehensive third-party aquaculture certification program, with standards encompassing environmental responsibility, social responsibility, food safety, animal health and welfare, and traceability. The BAP program covers the entire aquaculture production chain — processing plants, hatcheries, farms and feed mills. Additionally, the program is compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) and Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).
There were 2,155 BAP-certified facilities through the end of October, including 1,451 farms, 372 processing plants, 217 hatcheries and 115 feed mills.
About BAP
A division of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain — farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills — that assure healthful foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means. BAP certification is based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with the BAP standards developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance.
