6 March, 2007

THE SCOTTISH Shellfish Marketing Group (SSMG) is celebrating after achieving the highest independent food standard certificate available, for the second year running.

The European Food Safety Inspection Service has given SSMG a grade A certification.

EFSIS is the food industries premier independent inspection and certification service. They are renowned worldwide and provide retailers, manufacturers, farmers and caterers with expert inspections of their operations, ensuring high standards are kept up.

Inspections undertaken at SSMG included an audit of company premises, procedures and practices to establish the high quality EFSIS standard had been met.

SSMG managing director Donny Gillies said: "Achieving and maintaining Grade A status has certainly given us a significant boost as well as allowing us to maintain our competitive edge.

"Consumers are increasingly more aware of food standards and it's important that we continue to provide the highest standards possible."

SSMG is the UK's top producer of shellfish. They supply supermarkets, wholesalers and restaurants with mussels, oysters and scallops farmed from sea lochs in the west coast of Scotland and Shetland.

SSMG's technical manager Gillian Dickie said: "We have also been able to make more effective use of our resources and operate in a more efficient and effective manner.

"EFSIS has global recognition, and the achievement of a certificate with EFSIS is associated with the achievement of the highest standards. This achievement provides our customers with confidence that we are a company committed to operating to exacting standards."