Sustainable Seafood Certification and Accreditation
Find a Certification Body
Find information about certification bodies, assessment requirements and technical resources for Friend of the Sea certification.
For Companies Seeking Certification
Find a certification body for your application
Independent certification bodies assess applications against the relevant Friend of the Sea standard. Before arranging an assessment, confirm which standard applies to your product, service or activity and whether the certification body can assess that scope.
For help identifying a suitable certification body, contact quality@friendofthesea.org.
Understand certification and accreditation
Certification assesses conformity with the requirements of a particular standard. Accreditation assesses a certification body’s competence to undertake specified certification activities.
The Friend of the Sea Certification Procedure sets out registration and accreditation requirements for certification bodies, including conditions for bodies undergoing accreditation.
International Recognition
Friend of the Sea is listed by Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) as an endorsed sector scheme under its Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for product certification to ISO/IEC 17065.
The published scope includes the FOS Wild Standard; FOS Aqua Inland, Marine and Shellfish standards; and FOS standards for chain of custody, fish feed, fishmeal, fish oil and Omega-3.
This recognition applies to the standards identified in Global ACI’s published scope. Check the relevant certification body’s accreditation scope when arranging an assessment.
World Sustainability Organization S.r.l. is a stakeholder member of Global ACI.
Certification Bodies
Find certification bodies that conduct assessments against Friend of the Sea standards. View each entry for its website, assessment scope and accreditation status.
Before arranging an assessment, confirm that the body can assess your product, service or activity against the relevant standard. For assistance, contact quality@friendofthesea.org.
For Certification Bodies
Apply to conduct Friend of the Sea assessments
Certification bodies interested in conducting Friend of the Sea assessments should contact quality@friendofthesea.org for information about registration, accreditation requirements and the applicable certification scope.
Training and Technical Support
Friend of the Sea’s Technical and Scientific Department provides training, technical support and guidance on interpreting the standards. Contact quality@friendofthesea.org for information about training and assessment requirements.
Resources for Auditors and Certification Bodies
Access certification procedures, audit guidance and standard transition documents to support assessment planning and delivery. Check which document version applies to your assessment. Contact the technical team if you need clarification.
Certification Procedures and Audit Guidance
Standard Transition Guidance
Technical Circulars
Consult the circulars for requirement interpretations, procedural updates and instructions relevant to your assessment. Check their applicability with the technical team, particularly where a circular concerns an exceptional measure or a previous standard version.
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Need Assistance
For questions about certification bodies, accreditation requirements, training or technical documents, contact quality@friendofthesea.org.
