Norcod achieves prized GlobalG.A.P. certification

Company Name

NORCOD

ISN

NO0010892912

Market

Euronext Growth

Symbol

NCOD

Norwegian cod-farming venture scores industry first and cements yet another
strategic milestone with major world-class aquaculture certification.

Trondheim-headquartered Norcod is the world’s first dedicated cod-farming
operation to secure certification according to the GlobalG.A.P. Aquaculture
Standard. Since its inception the organisation has served to build trust and
integrity in agricultural practice generally, and is now the most widely
accepted private-sector food safety certification in the world.

“We are very pleased and proud to be the first within our industry to obtain
this certification. It demonstrates the clear operational focus we’ve had from
the outset on sustainability, and that Norcod is a responsible player in the
aquaculture industry,” said Norcod CSO Hilde Storhaug.

Storhaug says the certification process went smoothly and as predicted. The
standard covers the entire production chain from broodstock, seedlings and feed
suppliers to farming, harvesting and processing – or ‘feed to fork’. It lays
down strict criteria for legal compliance, employees’ occupational health and
safety, animal welfare, food safety and environmental and ecological care.
Norcod also underwent the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice
(GRASP), a voluntary part of the certification process applied to assess social
risks in primary production and to provide additional transparency to supply
chain partners.

In terms of food safety, the Aquaculture Standard has been successfully assessed
against the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarking requirements and
achieved GFSI recognition for scope A2 farming of fish – which is the only
aquaculture farming standard to have achieved such recognition.

Storhaug notes the aquaculture industry in Norway is already strictly regulated.
“But by certifying our business according to a respected international standard,
we further show that Norcod as a company is committed to our employees, ensuring
optimal fish welfare and health, and to preserving both the local and global
environment,” she said.

Storhaug adds that the certification also reflects Norcod’s founding ambition to
be part of innovative solutions to address the challenge of how to produce and
supply healthy protein to the world’s growing population without adding to the
strain on a planet already severely under pressure from factors including high
CO2 emissions from land-based animal farming and shrinking available land mass
for farming.

“Sustainable aquaculture using modern equipment enables productive use of the
ocean without further endangering stocks of wild cod species through
overfishing,” she said. Norcod is also
deploying electric-powered barges and service boats as part of its strategy to
keep emissions to a minimum.

Norcod will continue to be a front-runner and strong driving force for
responsible cod farming on an industrial scale. “The next step in terms of
certification will be to apply for compliance with ASC [Aquaculture Stewardship
Council] standards. Although that is somewhat further ahead in time, and we are
still in a process of gradual expansion, we are focused and determined to
achieve that goal as well,” said Storhaug.

Norcod CEO Christian Riber commented: “Obtaining this certification is a result
of a strong team effort working towards clear sustainability performance goals.
It shows that we are practising what we preach, and I congratulate all our
personnel for their dedication especially during the challenging pandemic
situation.”

He adds that securing the certification comes at an exciting time for Norcod as
it prepares for its first commercial harvest of high-quality, fresh farmed cod
in Q3. “We all look forward to generating income and seeing the results of
careful planning and all our hard work so far,” he said.



About Norcod

Norcod AS’ core business is commercial sea farming of cod but through ownership
and partnerships is involved in the entire value chain. Norcod’s existing fish
farms are located in Mid-Norway with ideal conditions for cod. The company is
contributing to blue ocean value creation with minimal impact on the environment
while supporting local communities. Norcod is listed on the Oslo Stock
Exchange’s Euronext Growth Market.




For more information, please contact:

Christian Riber
CEO, Norcod
+47 905 37 990
cr@norcod.no

More information:
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534738_20210601_Norcod AS_GlobalGAP_NOR.pdf
534738_20210601_Norcod AS_GlobalGAP_ENG.pdf