The Guide is complemented by the '4Ps for 3Ps' Sustainable Marketing Online Game. The interactive 3D game aims to show marketers that environmental criteria can be a part of consumers' choice of product, and that in view of the vast amount of information that consumers must deal with, these criteria should be clearly communicated. Set in a shopping mall, the game puts the marketer in the shoes of the consumer during a virtual shopping experience.

Safe Quality Food is a certification program, managed by the Food Marketing Institute.   Suppliers and manufacturers may be well served to learn as much about SQF, as soon as possible, as it has large international momentum AND addresses some of the largest concerns of commercial food buyers - including food safety.

SQF appears to have relatively strong support by commercial buyers and offers independent suppliers and manufacturers guidelines that establish systems that not only strengthens the existing business, but establishes a strong base for business growth.

The Cool Chain Association was founded in Feb 2003 with the common goal to establish an association that can harmonize the global movement and handling of perishables and temperature sensitive products (PTSP) to the benefit of the consumer and the supply chain participants.

In order to provide a quality measurement for the logistic industry dealing with Perishable & Temperature Sensitive Products (PTSP), CCA and GL-Certification (GLC) has formed and developed the “Cool Chain Quality Indicators” or simply “CCQI”. The new standard covers all logistic providers in the cool chain. CCA continues to work towards making the CCQI Standard a part of the selection criteria for retailers & brand-owners to find their supply chain providers.

See full story for the latest from the May 2008 Cool Chain Association meeting including a consideration of a standardized label for perishables handling.

The UN FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade will meet in Bremen, Germany on June 2-6.

Issues on the agenda include:

1. Developments in international markets and the growing demand for fish, as well as linkages to other food commodities and rising food prices.

2. Establishing minimum requirements and criteria for fish product “ecolabels” in order to move towards international standardisation. Ecolabels for fisheries products are a response to growing concerns about the wellbeing of world fisheries. They provide consumers with information regarding a product’s provenance and make it possible for them to choose products that have come from sustainably managed fisheries.

3. Trends in market access requirements in major importing regions and how these pose challenges to fish producers and experts in developing countries. More and more, fish is coming from abroad. At the same time, importing countries are raising the hurdle for fish imports by imposing increasingly strict safety and quality standards. So far, producing countries have for the most part been successful in upgrading their facilities and improving the quality and safety of their products. Still, challenges remain.

4. Catch documentation schemes designed to track fish products as they move through the production chain from the point of capture to the market. Such schemes are seen as a valuable tool in the fight against illegal fishing

5. Creation of a set of basic guidelines for responsible fish trade. The guidelines will provide guidance to governments on how to balance the needs for the long term sustainability of fish resources and the short term interests of the various stakeholders in current trade, ranging from fishermen, fish farmers, and processors to traders, retailers and consumers.

The event will bring together expert representatives from over 60 governments in discussions on a range of issues related to the international trade in fish and fishery products, valued at $86 billion annually.

Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) is a non-profit organization created to offer a certification and labeling program for meat, eggs, dairy and poultry products from animals raised according to Humane Farm Animal Care’s Animal Care Standards. Developed with the welfare of the individual animal in mind, Certified Humane standards ensure that the animal is treated humanely and in accordance with the highest farm animal welfare standards available today, as the animal is raised, transported and processed.

Hugh Bertmaring is the the Alaska based lead auditor for MSC certification body Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) of Emeryville, CA. and perform MSC Chain of Custody audit work. This includes but is not limited to initial, surveillance, re-assessment audits and document review.

He is based in Anchorage/Kenai Alaska and currently provide MSC COC audit services throughout the State of Alaska as well as the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Those interested in obtaining MSC Chain of Custody certification or that have general questions concerning the Marine Stewardship Council, may contact me for pertinent information by calling 907 565 5655 or by sending an email to Hugh.    More information on MSC at www.msc.org.  More information on SCS  - Click Here