TU enforces strict ethics for supplies
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THAI UNION GROUP, the world's largest tuna canner, has stopped receiving supplies from about 1,200 fishing boats in Thailand over the past one to two years as part of its strictly-enforced code for responsible sourcing and conduct.
“Our mission is not to be the largest or the No 1 company, but |to be the most trusted seafood |leader because we see our stakeholders need a trusted company,” Thiraphong Chansiri, president and chief executive officer, said recently.
As part of its global rebranding launched on September 18, the group has unveiled its new corporate vision to be the world’s most trusted seafood leader.
Over the last few years, it has developed its business ethics and conduct codes and started implementing the rules not only for its operations but its entire supply chain with no tolerance of violators.
In Thailand, the group has already reduced the number of boats from which it sources fish – from over 2,000 to about 800 – while for shrimp, boats providing fish for fish meal have been cut from over 200 to 57.
“Since 2014, we have terminated business relationships with more than 15 suppliers for this reason,” he said.
The group has also ceased all purchases from mothership and transshipper vessels and launched a global sourcing policy on transhipment bans in April.
“As one of the founding members of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, we are committed to following Resolution 14-03, which calls upon the industry to refrain from transactions with purse-seine-caught tuna that are transshipped at sea,” he said.
Darian McBain, director of sustainable development, said the group has set a target to achieve 100 per cent “from catch-to-consumption” traceability in all of its seafood products by 2020.
“Thai Union acknowledges the ever-increasing pressure from stakeholders on environment and labour issues in our supply chain.
“We have played a proactive role in working with government, community and research organisations, as well as customers and industry peers to jointly develop and implement important initiatives to improve the sustainability of our seafood supply chain,” she said.
In April, the European Commission issued a “yellow card” warning to Thailand, saying the country had six months to demonstrate it was making an effort to control illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in its waters, or face seafood-related trade sanctions from the EU.
As the EU-set deadline approaches, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha restated the government’s readiness to address the EU’s assessment of the Thai government’s crackdown on IUU fishing, during his weekly talk programme last week.
He said he believes the EU would notice positive changes in the country’s fishing industry as a result of the ongoing efforts to stem illegal fishing.
EU vetting
EU representatives began vetting fishing activities in Thailand from October 13 and will conclude today.
Thiraphong said he has seen real progress from the many law enforcement measures that the Thai government has put in place during the past six months and hopes the EU would consider these efforts.
As a global leader in the industry, Thai Union will be an agent of change that will fight to eradicate IUU fishing and will not tolerate human rights violations of any kind, he said.
