Multi-Star Integrity

The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program

employs a star system to indicate the integration
levels of BAP certification along the aquaculture
production chain.

To use the BAP-provided artwork on packaging, facilities must sign a

Certification Mark Agreement and display the BAP label and star
denotations in the following manner:

Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant, BAP-certified

farm(s) only, BAP-certified hatchery only and BAP-certified feed mill only

Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant, BAP-certified

farm(s) only and BAP-certified hatchery and/or feed mill only

Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant and BAP-certified

farm(s) only

Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant

Facilities listed as part of a 2-, 3- or 4-star production group means that

they are capable of producing the multi-star product. It does not mean that
100% of the group’s production is multi-star. Buyers are urged to ask
suppliers to clearly identify the star status of a product and the volume of 2-
, 3- or 4-star product as part of a purchasing specification.

Product cannot be claimed or sold as 2, 3 or 4 star, whether the logo is

used on product or not, unless the rules in the standards and stated here
are strictly followed. Use of the BAP logo, or making any BAP-related
claims, requires registration with BAP. The logo and any BAP-related
claims are registered trademarks of GAA/BAP.

Product cannot be called 2, 3 or 4 star unless each facility as below is

certified as part of a registered 2-, 3- or 4-star group. Product can only be
claimed as 2 star from a BAP-certified processing plant with product that
comes only from a BAP-certified farm. If, for example, there are five farms
supplying a BAP-certified processing plant, but only one of the farms is
BAP certified, only the product from that one BAP-certified farm is allowed
to be claimed, represented and sold as BAP 2 star. Product from the other
farms shall be kept separate and cannot be claimed in any way as BAP 2
star. The same principal applies for 3- and 4-star claims.

Companies handling seafood products that are not BAP certified, or are
BAP certified at different star levels, must physically segregate these
products from one another. The BAP retail mark, or the claiming of BAP
status in any other way, is prohibited for use on non-certified products.
Precise seafood production records must be maintained as product is
procured, handled and sold. Utilizing approved traceability systems,
processing facilities must perform “mass balance” computations for each lot
of 2-, 3- and 4-star product. The facilities are subject to annual audits to
verify that robust systems are in place. Auditors perform independent trace-
back exercises and mass balance during the audits, too. Further, the BAP
Program Integrity team conducts unannounced audits to verify these
computations are accurate. These are performed both onsite and via
desktop trace-back exercises to confirm the effectiveness of the systems.

Unique BAP star category identifiers and quantity breakdowns must

accompany documents received for each shipment to buyers. Facilities
certified to two or more stars must also provide quarterly information about
volumes received from each supplier, volumes produced within each
applicable star category and product destinations.

Additionally, BAP frequently monitors BAP logo usage, brand identity and
product claims in the marketplace to ensure compliance by facilities using
the BAP mark on packaging.