On Tuesday 12 May, Fuller’s joins the SSC as its first new member since the launch of the sourcing and labelling codes in September 2014. Fuller’s, the London brewer and pub company, has almost 400 pubs, hotels and inns in England.
The SSC’s vision is that all fish and seafood sold in the UK is from sustainable sources. Members account for more than 70% of retail seafood sales in the UK. Businesses signing up to the voluntary codes commit to working towards healthy and resilient oceans.
Paul Dickinson, Head of Food at Fuller’s, said: “We’re very pleased to become a member of the SSC and to join like-minded businesses in responsible sourcing to look after our oceans. Provenance of food is extremely important to Fuller’s. We will use the SSC codes to help educate our staff and future chefs in our training programmes.”
Katie Miller, SSC coordinator at ClientEarth, said: “Joining the SSC shows a clear commitment to sustainability. We welcome Fuller’s and look forward to other businesses joining us by signing up to the codes. Industry commitments to responsible sourcing are crucial to ensuring healthy oceans.”
Signing up to the sourcing code means that members commit to the responsible sourcing of all own-brand fish by following good practice, such as good traceability, transparency and openness. The code includes commitment to taking a risk assessment approach to sourcing fish, and basing decisions on the outcomes to help the fishery or farm to move towards sustainability.
The SSC aims to create harmonised seafood labelling that will provide consumers with accurate information on the provenance and sustainability of the fish or seafood. The labelling code is designed to achieve this.
Fuller’s will join the rest of the members and align with the codes by 18 September 2015 – one year after they were publicly launched. Members that have already signed up are: Co-operative Food, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Feng Sushi, Harbour Lights Falmouth, River Cottage, Lyons Seafoods, New England Seafood Limited, Birds Eye UK, The Saucy Fish Co., Icelandic Group UK Ltd, Young’s Seafood Limited, Direct Seafoods, Le Lien Ltd, M&J Seafood.
