February 15-18, 2009 Washington State Convention Center Seattle ...

DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS FOR FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE – AN UPDATE
ON THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ORGANIZATION –TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 234
John Colt and Scott Cedarquist
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112 USA
John.colt@noaa.gov
The International Standard Organization (ISO) develops international standards for products, services, processes, materials and
systems, and for conformity assessment, managerial and organization practices. The ISO organization consists of a network
of national standards bodies from all regions of the world, working in partnership with international organizations such as the
United Nations and the World Trade Organization. The U.S. is represented in ISO by the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI).
On February 2007, the ISO Technical Management Board passed a resolution to approve the formation of the new ISO Technical
Committee 234 (TC234) on Fisheries and Aquaculture and to assign the international secretariat responsibilities of this
TC to Norway. ANSI has delegated the administration of this technical committee to the American Society of Agricultural and
Biological Engineers (ASABE) because of its extensive experience in agricultural standards development.
The plenary meeting of TC234 occurred October 9-10, 2008 in Bergen, Norway. The U.S. delegation consisted of John Colt
(NOAA; head of delegation), Melvin Myers (consultant), Robert McKnight (University of Kentucky), Scott Cedarquist (Director
of Standards, ASABE), and Barbara Montwill (FDA).
TC 234 is organized into participating countries (P countries), observing countries (O countries), and liaisons with international
organizations. Only P members vote on Technical Committee actions. The current participating countries are: Canada, Fiji,
France, Iceland, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, USA, United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Sweden,
and Norway. The observing countries are: Argentina, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark,
Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malta, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Poland, and Ukraine.
In June 2008, the TC234 Secretariat proposed four new work item proposals (NWIP):
• Traceability of fishery products - Specification on the information to be recorded in captured fish distribution chains.
• Traceability of fishery products - Specification on the information to be recorded in farmed fish distribution chains.
• Environmental monitoring of marine fish farms.
• Cage fish farms – Requirements for design, dimensioning, production, installation and operation. (N029)
In September 2008, the P countries will have to vote support or oppose the development of each of these potential standards.
For the standard process to proceed, 11 countries must suppose a particular standard. The next TC234 meeting will be held
November 11-12, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.
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