Food security, safety and certification

Food safety is a key concern for international trade in fish products. The constantly changing regulatory environment and safety requirements of importing countries pose a special challenge to small-scale aquaculture producers.

The programme assists members to assure the safety and quality of aquaculture products through the adoption of science-based better management practices. Policy issues concerning aquaculture certification and activities in market access are also addressed.

The programme focuses on assisting small-scale farmers to adapt to the changing trade and safety environment. Cluster-based management approaches and formation of farmer societies are promoted as practical mechanisms for implementation of better management practices.

Key activities

  • Evaluation of commodity-specific better management practices for meeting domestic and international food safety standards.
  • Facilitating establishment of national residue testing and monitoring programmes and sharing of information amongst member countries.
  • Improving access to markets by small-scale farmers.
  • Improving market development for low-cost aquaculture commodities.
  • Address biosecurity and associated human health issues regarding the consumption of fish and processed products.
  • Development of farmer groups and cluster-based certification concepts and methodologies.

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A collection of subject tags relating to technical matters.

In this collection

NACA Newsletter, Volume XXV, No. 1, January-March 2010

In this issue:

Inception meeting on methodologies for aquaculture society certification. Meetings discuss impacts, adaptation to climate change of Vietnamese shrimp farmers. Aquaclimate project: India case study. In memory of Gagan Bahadur Nhuchhe Pradhan. Version 2 of the draft better management practices for catfish farming released. Technical course on federating digital library systems.

Aquaculture Asia Magazine, April-June 2009

In this issue:

GLOBALGAP standard in Thai shrimp farms: Mission (im)possible? The Victorian trout industry and the bushfires. Small-scale aquaculture in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar. The history, status and future prospects of monosex tilapia culture in Thailand. Mangroves of Nakhon Si Thammaarat Province in Souther Thailand. Induced breeding of pacu Piaractus brachypomus in captivity. Fumosins - mycotoxins of increasing importance in fish. Microsatellite DNA markers, a fisheries perspective. Formulated feed for tiger grouper grow out.

Aquaculture Asia Magazine, January-March 2009

In this issue:

Myanmar revisited. Harvesting, traditional preservation and marketing of fishes of Chalan Beel, Bangladesh. Role of community in production and supply of larger, quality fingerlings. Can rice-fish farming provide food security in Bangladesh? Nutritional and food security for rural poor through multi-commodity production from a lake of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Emerging boost in Sri Lankan reservoir fish production. Farming the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium malcolmnsonii. Breeding and seed production of catfish Ompok pabda.

Aquaculture Asia Magazine, July-September 2008

In this issue:

Possible improvements to carp culture in Andhra Pradesh. Aquaculture and environmental issues in the region of Nai Lagoon, Vietnam. Selection potential for feed efficiency in farmed salmonids. Freshwater prawn broodstock concern in Bangladhesh hatcheries. Production of Cirrhinus molitorella and Labeo chrysophekadion for culture-based fisheries in Lao PDR: Nursery and grow-out. Mussel farming: Alternate water monitoring practice. Use of poultry by-product meals in pelleted feed for humpback grouper Cromileptes altivelis.

NACA Newsletter Volume XXIII, No. 3, July-September 2008

In this issue:

Aquaculture certification guidelines development process continues in Beijing, Washington D.C. Development of BMPs for catfish farming in Vietnam - survey of management practices. NACA extends cooperation with ADB for tsunami rehabilitation in Indonesia. International hands-on training programme on molecular biology techniques. Cage aquaculture carrying capacity tool now available. 6th Regional Grouper Hatchery Production Training Course completed. 2008 Forum on Fisheries Science and Technology, 25-27 September 2008, Shanghai, China. Aquaculture success stories 'write shop'. Bookshelf: New publications for free download.

Report of the Beijing FAO/NACA/Government of China Expert Workshop on Guidelines for Aquaculture Certification

This workshop was the fifth in a series of consultations to prepare the international guidelines for aquaculture certification. The workshop had a strong emphasis on aquaculture products from China, and explored opportunities and challenges for implementing the certification guidelines in China towards improving overall aquatic production and trade of aquaculture products. The workshop considered that international guidelines for aquaculture certification would provide a useful basis for development of standards for certification of aquaculture products in China.

Myanmar aquaculture and inland fisheries

Fish and fish products are crucial in the nutrition and livelihoods of the Myanmar people. However, little information is available on their patterns of consumption, inter-regional differences, availability and types of fish consumed. This report is the outcome of two concurrent missions, one to coastal areas and one to inland areas. The report includes the findings of the missions as well as conclusions and recommendations in support of the long-term sustainability of fishery resources in Myanmar.

NACA Newsletter Volume XXIII, No. 2, April-June 2008

In this issue:

19th Governing Council meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal. OIE/NACA Regional Workshop on Aquatic Animal Health. Vietnam catfish BMP project kicks off. Planning meeting, Regional Project on Reservoir Fisheries Development and Management. NACA to document 'Aquaculture Success Stories'. 6th Regional Grouper Hatchery Training Course 5-25 May 2008. Establishing a Working Party on Aquaculture Statistics. Implementing the ASEAN Roadmap for Integration of Fisheries Sector. London Expert Workshop on Aquaculture Certification.

Report of the Workshop on Research Needs in Sustaining the Aquaculture Sector in Asia-Pacific to Year 2025 and Beyond

IDRC and NACA convened a workshop to identify the main research issues and needs to sustain Asian aquaculture into the first quarter of the 21st century, and also to bring them to the notice of relevant planners, managers and policy makers, and potential donors. The workshop was held in Rayong, Thailand from 4-7 June 2007. This report contains the issues papers drafted in preparation for the meeting and a summary of the discussions.

Aquaculture Asia Magazine, January-March 2008

In this issue:

Developing guidelines for sustainable freshwater aquaculture planning in Vietnam. Aquaculture production, certification and trade for small-scale farmers. Backyard hatcheries for crustaceans in Thailand. Alternative carp species for diversification in India. Genetic and reproduction technologies for aquaculture and fisheries management of Murray cod. Status of sahar domestication in Nepal. Comparative advantage analysis of shrimp production in Asia. Strategies to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor, Vietnam, and more.