July 17, 2008 - Whole Foods has begun requiring its vendors of farmed seafood to pass an independent third-party review of their environmental impacts.

The grocery chain spent two years working with fish farmers, governments, and environmental groups to devise a strict aquaculture-standards program that will be implemented in all of the company's stores in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

The new standards require producers to provide detailed information on their farming practices, proving that they are protecting sensitive habitats, monitoring water quality, and sourcing feed ingredients responsibly.

The scheme also calls for a ban on toxic chemicals and pesticides and aims to ensure "farm-to-fork" traceability up the supply chain.

"Aquaculture consumption is on the rise worldwide and will continue to play an important role as a key global food source for the future," says David Pilat, global seafood coordinator for Whole Foods. "Our mission is to steer aquaculture in the right direction."

Last year the company announced its sustainable sourcing guarantee, which aims to ensure that certain products imported from the developing world have been sourced and produced ethically, sustainably, and transparently.