Since 2002, the Department of Fisheries has been strengthening it's food safety programme and has now set up the Aquaculture Development and Certification Center (ADCC), which offers aquaculture certification and promotes good aquaculture practice.
With many standards available around the world, the department is offering an alternative to the complex and expensive nature of certification schemes. The department is now offering Thai farmers the GAP TAS, a voluntary standard which promotes good practice shrimp farming.
The standard can be used to improve farm management practice and be used to fulfill the certification process.
The standard therefore helps improve the farm economically, environmentally and sustainably, allowing farmers to compete internationally.
In order to be certified, the standard sets out 10 items which must be addressed. These include:
- farm management
- record keeping
- labour and welfare
- handling
- sanitation
- energy source and fuel
- use of drugs
- effluent and sediment management
- social and environmental responsibilities
Split into three parts; major, minor and recommendation, farmers will be expected to pass a certain amount of items from each section in order to become certified with a green Q logo.
The government is now planning to promote a hatchery standard for shrimp and a culture standard for tilapia.
For more information on how to become certified please see http://www.acfs.go.th/index.php
