The Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) has chosen a new form of independent recognition for its SEG Standard for the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. With the introduction of the new SEG Standard, version 8.0 in October 2026, and following 10 years of continuous development and improvement, SEG will move away from its previous pathway with ISEAL and adopt an accreditation structure based on ISO 17065.

This decision marks a new phase in the further professionalisation of the SEG Standard and is driven by one central objective: strengthening the practical protective impact of the standard for the European eel in a rapidly changing market and policy environment.

Ten years of investment in quality and credibility

For almost ten years, SEG has invested intensively in the ISEAL pathway. That investment resulted in important improvements in governance, assurance, stakeholder engagement and transparency. In June 2025, SEG was recognised by ISEAL with Code Compliant status.

“That recognition was an important milestone for SEG and for the sector as a whole,” said Andrew Kerr, Chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group. “It confirmed that even a relatively small organisation can deliver sustainability, transparency and independent oversight in a reliable and professional manner.”

At the same time, it became increasingly clear in practice that the eel sector and the trade in the European eel operate in an exceptionally dynamic environment, where regulations, market conditions, traceability requirements and international expectations are changing rapidly. This created a need for the further development of the system, allowing necessary adjustments to be implemented more quickly.

Greater flexibility for a dynamic sector

In recent years, SEG has taken major steps in the further development of its standard system. The transition from current version 7.6 to the revised 8.0 includes substantial improvements in assurance, risk management, traceability, governance and species protection, as well as being simpler and clearer to understand.

During this process, it became clear that the relatively extensive review and amendment procedures within the ISEAL framework were less suited to the speed at which the European eel sector currently needs to adapt to changing circumstances.

SEG has therefore concluded that a more flexible form of independent accreditation would better match the nature of the standard, the size of the organisation and the urgency of the conservation challenge.

Choosing ISO 17065

SEG is therefore moving towards independent third-party accreditation based on ISO 17065. This internationally recognised standard is widely used around the world for product, process and certification systems and is better suited to a practical, verifiable and market-oriented standard system.

The choice for ISO 17065 also aligns with recent European developments, including the EU’s Empowering Consumers Directive, which places increasingly stringent requirements on the substantiation, verifiability and independence of sustainability claims.

Through this step, SEG aims to further strengthen its standard while also being able to respond more rapidly to new risks, insights and developments within the eel sector.

Benefits for participating certified companies

For companies participating in the SEG Standard, this new direction means:

• a more adaptable standard that better reflects current market conditions;

• greater clarity and practical applicability of requirements;

• continued independent certification and external oversight;

• further strengthening of credible sustainability claims;

• a system that is better aligned with future European legislation.

SEG emphasises that the core of the standard remains unchanged: the protection and recovery of the European eel stock, combined with a strictly controlled and responsibly organised supply chain.

Benefits for certification bodies

The new structure also offers advantages for certification bodies. ISO 17065 is internationally well established and integrates effectively with existing audit and accreditation systems. This creates greater clarity in roles, responsibilities and assessment procedures, while enabling more efficient implementation.

In addition, it provides more scope to incorporate new risks or improvements into the standard more quickly, without lengthy and bureaucratic approval procedures.

Benefits for the protection of the European eel

According to SEG, the most important reason for this change is ultimately the protection of the European eel itself.

The European eel is facing a complex situation in which illegal trade, migration barriers, international regulations, changing markets and societal expectations continuously require adaptation. An effective protection system must therefore not only be robust and independent, but also sufficiently flexible to respond quickly to new developments.

SEG is convinced that a more agile standards system will ultimately lead to better protection of the species through greater participation by market operators, stronger supply chain control and increased effectiveness in practice.

“SEG’s ambition remains as high as ever,” said Andrew Kerr. “We will continue working towards a strict, independent and internationally credible standard system for a responsibly managed eel sector. The choice for a new accreditation structure represents the next step in the continued development of the standard, in line with the latest European developments regarding sustainability claims and independent certification.”

Summary:

SEG requires an accreditation structure that better matches the scale, ambitions and practical realities of a specialised and fast-moving sector standard.

The eel sector needs a more flexible and agile standard system that can respond more quickly to changing market conditions, regulatory developments and traceability requirements, thereby encouraging broader participation and acceptance throughout the supply chain.

European requirements regarding sustainability claims, transparency and independent verification are becoming increasingly stringent, requiring an accreditation framework that is well equipped for these evolving expectations.

For any queries, please contact standard@sustainableeelgroup.org.