GROWING SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FAO ECOLABELLING GUIDELINES

Growing support to update the FAO Ecolabelling Guidelines. A chance for equitable market access for small-scale fisheries.

The FAO has acknowledged mounting concerns that current certification systems are shutting small-scale fisheries (SSF) out of global seafood markets, during the recent FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (8–12 September).

This FAO Sub-Committee meeting brings together Member States, intergovernmental organisations, and NGOs to review global fish trade statistics, discuss international policy developments, and share national initiatives. Alongside discussions on reducing food loss and waste, food safety, and market competitiveness, a strong call emerged for reforming ecolabelling practices.

Ecolabelling certification, intended to reassure consumers that fishery products come from sustainably managed stocks, has become a critical requirement for accessing high-value markets, such as in the UK, continental Europe, and the US. However, the current model was designed largely with industrial fisheries in mind and has left small-scale operators struggling to keep up.

In particular, certification expenses are disproportionally burdensome for small-scale operators, while lack of data and human resources capacity prevents SSF from meeting industrial-scale criteria. Even for SSF which manage to achieve certification, studies are beginning to show that the overall costs outweigh benefits for SSF, particularly when competing with industrial fleets.

As ecolabelling becomes increasingly central to seafood trade, its current structure risks reinforcing inequities and undermining global commitments such as SDG 14.b and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries. The existing framework is based on the FAO Ecolabelling Guidelines developed two decades ago. Since then, significant international policy advancements have reshaped both sustainable fishing practices and commitments to supporting SSF. A revision is long overdue.

“For too long, ecolabelling has worked as a gatekeeper, limiting opportunities for small-scale fisheries that are often just as, if not more, sustainable than their industrial counterparts,” said Martin Purves, Managing Director, International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF). “The system must evolve to ensure fairness and inclusivity.”

In response to the calls for reform expressed at the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, the FAO will consider whether to first draft a guidance document that reflects the realities of SSF before renegotiating its outdated Ecolabelling Guidelines. Advocates stress that consultations for this guidance document must be transparent and inclusive, giving SSF a real voice, and that reforms must bring practical, meaningful change to certification schemes.

“This is a pivotal opportunity to align ecolabelling with global commitments like SDG 14.b,” said Martin Purves. “Done right, it can empower small-scale fishers while driving a more just and sustainable seafood trade.”

Stakeholders interested in shaping the future of ecolabelling should contact IPNLF for more information.