Quality Standards
We pride ourselves in producing the highest quality seafood with a remarkable taste and texture which we achieve due to our stringent standards for quality.
Quality Management System
Our Quality Management System is based on the international standard ISO 9001:2000 which provides a framework for an effective quality management system. This standard helps ensure consistency and improvement of working practices which in turn provides us with a product and service that meets our customer requirements.
Our QMS is regulated by our Quality Manager who has the responsibility and authority for ensuring that the quality system is implemented in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard. This includes ensuring effective communications, auditing of the system, liaising with external accreditation bodies and senior management, keeping up to date with legislation and ensuring that all customer requirements are met and maintained. The Quality Management System ensures that effective controls are consistently applied to our work processes and the system is continually updated to meet the changing requirements of our business.
Our main external governing body is the Soil Association.
Soil Association
The Soil Association is renowned as having the highest standards in the organic production and processing in the world. In many areas, their standards exceed the UK Government’s minimum requirements, particularly in animal welfare, and license every stage from production, processing and distribution to customers.
The Soil Association have developed standards specifically for aquaculture the principles of which include, but are not limited to:
- developing valuable and sustainable aquatic ecosystems
- maintaining or enhancing the quality of the water and water resources
- respecting the needs of other aquatic life
Hebrides Harvest has consistently met the requirements laid down in the Soil Association standards through our aquaculture management plan and organic integrity and as such we are able to display the registered certification Soil Association logo on our product. The logo is an internally respected mark for organic products which consumers recognise and trust.
Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture
The CoGP for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture addresses the responsibility of the farmer to the fish under his care, to the environment and to the consumer. It requires individuals, farmers and related organisations engaged in the aquaculture supply chain to undertake a number of practices including, but not limited to the following:
- plan and operate aquaculture sites in compliance with all applicable Scottish, UK and European legislation
- plan, develop and manage aquaculture sites in a manner that ensures the economic and environmental sustainability of the operation
- operate fish farms in a manner that provides the fish with conditions appropriate to the size and species and that are consistent with the best advice available on welfare
- co-operate with and participate in appropriate research, technological development and training activities that seek to enhance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of aquaculture
By adopting this Code of Practice, which covers every phase from hatchery to processing and which is independently audited, we can provide assurance to our customers and the general public that the standards we have achieved are recognised and approved.
Freedom Food
Freedom Food is the RSPCA’s farm assurance and food labelling scheme set up by the RSPCA in 1994. The aim of the scheme is to improve the lives of animals and is implemented through the RSPCA’s species specific welfare standards. The Freedom Food certification mark gives consumers the assurance that the scheme is backed by the RSPCA, one of the most respected animal charities in the world. In addition, the government has recognised Freedom Food as a 'higher level' assurance scheme
Standards
Hebrides Harvest was one of the first approved producers within this scheme. Our customers can be confident that traceability of our product can be established through the supply chain which is necessary before we can label our products with the Freedom Food Trademark.
Policies and Certification |
