GLOBALG.A.P. impact areas | Animal health and welfare

Animal health and welfare
Impact areas and claims

Animal health and welfare

Aquaculture – the rearing of aquatic species – is seen as an increasingly reliable way to meet the world’s nutritional needs and now represents the world’s fastest-growing food sector. Responsible, risk-assessed production processes that include animal health and welfare are vital to both global food security and the long-term sustainability of aquaculture operations.

How does GLOBALG.A.P. promote animal health and welfare?

Our flagship Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard for aquaculture is applicable to a wide range of species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and seaweed (macro algae), as well as all major production methods – from net enclosures to closed recirculation systems.

The rigorous standard requirements consider all four pillars of the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification and are also aligned with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Aquatic Animal Health Code.

IFA is the only standard at farm-level recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and the only standard recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) for all aquatic species.

Animal welfare topics in GLOBALG.A.P. standards and add-ons

  • Comprehensive aquaculture health plan approved by a certified veterinarian

  • Welfare risk assessments on water, predation, visual/acoustic disturbance, and marking

  • Control program for water quality and intake/discharge to avoid contamination

  • Health treatment analysis, including medicines, vaccination, quarantine, and pathogen screening

  • Records of stock movements for all stages of the aquatic species’ lifecycle

  • Procedures and monitoring for removal, safe disposal, stunning, and slaughter

  • Documented hygiene plan, species-specific handling training, and harvest protocols

  • Site management including risk assessments on equipment, cleaning, and pest control

Access GLOBALG.A.P. standard documents

GLOBALG.A.P. standard documents are publicly available, free of charge, and translated into multiple languages. They are developed through a transparent and comprehensive standard setting process that involves stakeholders from across the supply chain and includes scientific and technical expertise, field trials, and public consultation.

GLOBALG.A.P. Document Center Standard setting process

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