Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) and GDST Standards
Global
What is it?
The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) is a non-profit foundation, that manages the first-ever global industry standard for digitalised seafood traceability, covering both Wild Caught Seafood and Aquaculture supply chains.
The original standard was developed in partnership with more than 60 companies and associations from across the entire seafood supply chain and civil stakeholders, and was first published in 2020. Partners continue to shape and evolve the GDST Standard by proposing additional expansion frameworks during annual GDST dialogue events.
- The Key Data Elements (KDEs) that need to be captured at each Critical Tracking Event (CTE), in both wild caught and aquaculture supply chains.
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These KDES form the common language for digital interoperable traceability which is based on GS1 Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS), and enables KDEs to be shared along GDST-capable supply chains.
What is it?
The GDST Standard focuses mainly on the challenges of seafood traceability and interoperability between different parts of the supply chain and is an extension of the international traceability standard GS1, which is widely used by all major retailers, brands, and supply chains across the globe.By capturing and sharing key data relating to ethical, responsible, safe, and sustainable practices from each stage of the supply chain, the GDST Standard enables greater supply chain visibility through a common language for each data set and better interoperability.
Becoming GDST Capable will support progress towards ESG Goals, and enable easier compliance with regulatory and internal sourcing requirements.
It also overcomes inconsistent demands for data/information from governments, NGOs, retailers, or other downstream companies that lead to duplicated effort, confusion, higher compliance costs, and lower motivation among producers.
The Standard has two main parts:
The scope of the GDST’s mandate for aquaculture only extends to the traceability of fish-based sources of feed and does require the identification of the feed mill. If feed protein originates from wild-caught origins, it must also follow the requirements of traceability detailed for wild-caught seafood.
The GDST provides a resource library that includes useful explainers, FAQs, key concepts and guides on event-based traceability, etc., plus a GDST implementation guide.