The first certified products, Fish Monk Vannamei Shrimp and Fish Monk Pangasius, are now on sale in the Guangdong and Southern China province. KLG Fine Foods plans to extend distribution of both products to Beijing and Shanghai later this year.
Leung Ka Shing, Sales and Marketing Director of GZ KLG Fine Food Company Limited, said: "We believe in the core values of the ASC programme. We are committed to sourcing seafood from farms that use responsible farming practices to minimise the adverse impacts of fish farming."
"We always look for opportunities to extend the product portfolio to the market and help our customers choose responsibly farmed seafood. Fish farmed to the ASC's standard gives assurance that it has been farmed with responsible methods," added Shing.
The ASC certified pangasius is sourced from Godaco Seafood Joint Stock Company, and the shrimp is supplied by Quoc Viet.
KLG Fine Foods have also said they will pursue additional opportunities to expand the number of ASC labelled products in their product line part of its ongoing commitment to responsible aquaculture.
Chain of Custody ensures greater traceability
The ASC on-pack logo helps consumers to make an informed choice in the supermarket. The logo assures buyers that the fish they purchase has been responsibly sourced, with minimal impacts on society and the environment, and is fully traceable back to a well-managed farm.
The ASC requires all companies processing certified seafood to have in place traceability systems that ensure that no product mixing or substitution can occur.
The logo is fully traceable throughout the entire supply chain to ensure the availability of seafood, the health of the ocean and the enduring livelihood of the local communities in which the farms operate.
Expanding the ASC programme in China
Interest in the ASC programme has exploded across Asia and the number of Chinese tilapia farms with certification has increased over recent years.
In addition to increased participation at the farm level, retail outlets are also carrying more ASC products. Last year, ASC certified salmon went on sale in China and a greater variety of ASC certified seafood species will soon be available in select stores across the country.
