GLOBAL Trust Certification (formerly IFQC) has been accredited by independent accreditation body, Accreditation Services International, to carry out the assessment and certification of fisheries to the Marine Stewardship Council standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.

GTC has also been accredited to carry out certifications for the MSC Chain of Custody standard for seafood traceability.

Rupert Howes, chief executive of the MSC, said: “By achieving MSC accreditation, Global Trust Certification has joined a growing number of certifiers accredited to carry out MSC fishery and Chain of Custody certifications.

“Independent certifiers are vital to the rigour of the independent assessment process and GTC brings welcome certifier capacity at a time when fishery and supply chain companies are showing unprecedented interest in MSC certification.

“I am delighted that GTC is the 10th certifier accredited to carry out fishery assessments and I look forward to seeing more of their assessments reach their conclusions in the near future.”

Peter Marshall, chief executive of Global Trust, said: “Global Trust is very proud to have completed the fishery accreditation process and to be in a position to now provide both MSC Fishery and Chain of Custody certification services globally to fisheries, processor and seafood suppliers who want to take part in the MSC programme. Global Trust brings a competent, cordial and common sense approach which we feel will be welcomed by MSC Clients.

Global Trust have been active with MSC certifications in Canada and the USA.

Dave Garforth, Global Trust seafood director, said: “We are delighted to secure our accreditation for MSC certification activities and look forward to discussing our services with fishery managers and organisations at both the Boston Seafood Show and Brussels ESE this spring. We encourage fisheries to contact us with request and queries.”