June 16, 2014
TUF toeliminate wild fish in shrimp feed by 2020 amid labour controversy
Shrimp processor, Thai Union Frozen Products (TUF), plans to cut all wild fish from its shrimp feed by 2020.
On the same day, Carrefour stated it will stop buying from Charoen Pokphand Foods.
After a report by UK paper, the Guardian, linked CP Foods to slavery on vessels that supply fish to feed factories in its supply chain, TUF has come out with a statement on its plans on feed.
"With a commitment to protect the environment and prevent labour rights abuses in its supply chain, Thai Union''s R&D team is working on the shrimp feed formulae with an aim to progressively become less dependent on the fishmeal sourced from captured fisheries," said a statement from the company.
"By 2020, the group targets at 100% that its shrimp feed is completely free of wild-caught fish," it continued.
A Thai Union spokeswoman told Undercurrent News that the company is already selling ''D-Grow'', a commercial brand under Thai Union Feedmill, containing zero fishmeal from the sea.
On May 21, Wit Soontaranun, the company''s sustainability director, said that Thai Union is working on improving the formulae of its shrimp feed made from tuna plant byproducts instead of wild catch fish.
The Thai firm, which is the world''s largest tuna canner, already sends 100% of the by-products from its tuna plants for use in sustainable shrimp feed.
However, improving the formula with a view to gaining certification for the feed is currently a focus for the company''s R&D department.
"One way to help (with the sustainability of shrimp feed issue) is to reduce fishing pressure in the Gulf," Soontaranun said, at the time.
In a statement issued this month, Thai Union restated "its ethical business sourcing policy prohibits any form of forced labour, child labour or exploitation of human rights and is working uncompromisingly to comply with the international standards to prevent human rights violation of any kind".
Its suppliers have been made known and had taken cooperative efforts in assuring that there is no human trafficking in their chains of business conduct, the company said.
"We have made it very clear that any misconduct in relation to human trafficking found will result in a serious consequence to suspend such trade relationship with no compromise. We proactively work with relevant stakeholders to ensure necessary actions are taken by creating constructive dialogues and strong co-operations that contribute to significant improvement of the human rights practices throughout our supply and distribution chains," said Thiraphong Chansiri, Thai Union''s president and CEO.
According to the company, TUF strictly sources high quality premium grade shrimp feed of which hygiene and freshness are utmost important. The company''s procurement team has also conducted regular inspections at processing facilities and seaports.