Alternative Proteins Certification
Plant-based seafood made with ingredients grown under requirements for protecting ecosystems, soil and water. Limiting synthetic chemicals, managing energy and emissions, and respecting workers’ rights.
About the certification
Friend of the Sea offers a certification route for plant-based alternatives to seafood. The assessment looks beyond the finished product to the agricultural production behind its ingredients.
Manufacturers, ingredient suppliers and brands can submit their products for a scope review. Buyers can check which products are approved; applicants receive confirmation of the ingredients, activities and evidence to be assessed.
What can be certified
This page covers plant-based seafood alternatives. The approved scope identifies the products and relevant sources. Plant-based meat products follow the Friend of the Earth route. Other protein technologies require a separate eligibility review before an assessment can be agreed.
What the standard covers
The assessment examines the agricultural practices behind the ingredients used in the products submitted.
Documented procedures, designated staff and production records support environmental and labour controls. Relevant records are retained for at least three years.
Checks address ecosystem conversion, mitigation of historical impacts, habitat connections and protection of threatened species. Clearing forests to expand cultivation is prohibited.
Crop rotations or equivalent agronomic practices, pest monitoring and biological controls support cultivation. Highly toxic pest-control inputs are prohibited.
Soil condition is recorded and conservation actions reviewed. Agricultural water is tested annually, abstraction is authorised and wastewater discharges are controlled.
Hazardous substances require lawful handling and storage. Waste is separated for appropriate recovery or disposal, with controls against runoff and dispersion.
Production energy use is recorded, with reduction objectives and a commitment to renewable energy or credits. Greenhouse-gas and dust emissions require reduction strategies.
Checks cover child labour, minimum legal wages, access to health care and workplace safety.
Assessment and certification
The assessment scope is agreed for the proposed products and supply chain. Producers provide evidence for agricultural activities, while manufacturers and brands provide product and sourcing information for review.
Certification fees
Request a quotation for the products, ingredient sources and activities included in your application. Audit charges and logo royalties are separate. Suppliers and end brands use the same published price list, with the applicable category and amount confirmed in the quotation.
Check certification status
Check the relevant product or outlet, its approved scope and current status. A business name in the directory does not mean every product or activity is covered.
Frequently asked questions
No. A plant-based formulation alone does not establish that the agricultural sourcing and other applicable criteria have been met.
These technologies need a separate eligibility review. Submit your ingredients and production method so the team can confirm whether an assessment route is available.
No. It covers the products identified in the approved scope. A new formulation or ingredient source should be reviewed before approval is extended.
An end-brand assessment is based on documentary evidence for its products, including manufacturer and supplier information. Relevant production activities are assessed where applicable.
No. The branded products need to be included in the approved scope. The brand must obtain its own logo-use authorisation and pay the applicable royalties.
No. This programme does not establish nutritional superiority. Buyers should use the product’s ingredient, allergen and nutrition information when choosing food.
Apply for certification
Tell us the products you want assessed, their ingredients and sources, and whether you manufacture them or sell them under your own brand. The team will confirm eligibility, scope and costs.