The Sustainable Seafood Coalition is launching a public consultation to seek stakeholder feedback on the revised SSC Codes, which will remain open until 17th January 2025.
SSC Codes
SSC members commit to two Codes of Conduct: the Sourcing Code and the Claims Code. These Codes set out the standards that SSC members consider to be good practice within the industry for responsible seafood sourcing and claims. In addition, SSC members use a common Risk Assessment Template which aims to bring consistency to how risks in the global seafood industry are reviewed, evaluated and communicated.
The SSC Guidance document provides further detail and recommendations to support members implement the Codes.
Review of the Codes
In 2024-25 the SSC is undertaking a process of revision of the SSC Codes and Risk Assessment Template to ensure that they remain fit for purpose, reflect changes in the industry and cover key areas of risk. Going forward, the SSC Codes will be reviewed every two years.
Summary of key focus areas and proposed revisions to the Codes as part of this review cycle:
- Strengthening language to clarify requirements of members
- Restructuring for clarity including clause numbers
- Sourcing Code – bringing some of the existing Guidance into the Codes as requirements rather than recommendations
- Sourcing Code – addition of human rights as a key priority area for this Code review
- Sourcing Code – addition of some requirements for carbon, feed, and animal welfare (These are the initial requirements added for this review, but expected to be developed further in subsequent Code revisions).
- Claims Code – raising the bar for responsibly sourced claims
- Ensuring alignment to regulatory requirements regarding claims.
The Codes are a process to be followed and aim to align with existing frameworks. An update to the Guidance will take place in early 2025, which will focus on implementation of the Codes via specific tools.
Stakeholder Consultation
Stakeholders are being consulted as part of this review of the SSC Codes and Risk Assessment Template in a two-stage process, to solicit a wider range of views about responsible seafood sourcing and labelling practices.
Stage 1 has now been completed, with targeted stakeholders having provided their feedback which has fed into a revised version of the SSC Codes.
As part of Stage 2, the SSC is opening these revised Codes to public consultation until 17th January 2025. Please see the revised draft Codes here and draft Risk Assessment Template here (Excel file).
The review of the Codes is an iterative process, with feedback being sought on specific areas and incorporated into the revised Codes in line with the evaluation criteria outlined below.
Interested parties wishing to provide feedback are kindly requested to review the draft Codes, and submit your comments and thoughts through this survey.
Evaluation Criteria
The SSC Codes Working Group will review feedback provided.
Criteria will be used to evaluate feedback provided on changes the Codes and any proposed amendments, so the SSC requests that stakeholders bear this in mind when providing suggestions:
- Effectiveness – is the suggested change effective at meeting the intent of the Codes?
- Feasibility – is the suggested change feasible for SSC members and their suppliers?
- Accountability – can SSC members be held accountable to the suggested change?
- Frequency – is the suggested change proposed by multiple stakeholders?
The SSC will publish an anonymised summary of feedback received and how it has been addressed on the SSC website when the updated Codes are published in early 2025.
We greatly value stakeholder input in helping the SSC develop Codes which balance commitment to responsible practice with the practicalities of the global seafood industry.
We thank stakeholders in advance for thoughts and suggestions on the revised SSC Codes.
