SEG Standard Claims and Labelling

Background

Organisations which are certified for compliance with the SEG Standard can now make claims and use the SEG Certified logo to demonstrate that the product meets this Best Practice Code of Conduct for a Responsible Eel Sector.

This page states what and when SEG claims and the SEG Certified logo can be used and how to get agreement to do so.

What are claims?

Green claims, also known as environmental or eco-friendly claims, are statements made by businesses to highlight the positive environmental aspects of their products, services, or operations. They are usually made to show their compliance with a sustainability standard; in this case, the SEG Standard.

The EU is introducing a Green Claims Directive, though this is currently on hold. These SEG Standard Claims are designed to be compatible with that Directive.

What label can be used

If you are SEG Certified you can use this label on your website, packaging, invoices and other promotional material:

You may use it in association with one of more of the claims below either on or off-product, according to our 205 SEG Standard Claims and Labelling Guide.

You must also provide a link or QR code to the SEG web-page What SEG Certified Means, so that your customers can easily access this information.

You may NOT use the SEG corporate logo:

For guidance on how to use the SEG Certified logo, please see the SEG Certified Logo User Manual.

What Allowed Claims SEG certified operators can make

SEG certified operators can use the following claims.

The core primary claim that we recommend clients to use, is:

English: Certified, responsibly sourced European eel

Dutch: Gecertificeerde Europese paling uit verantwoorde bron

French: Anguille européenne certifiée et issue de sources responsables

German: Zertifizierter, verantwortungsvoll beschaffter Aal

Spanish: Anguila europea certificada y de origen responsable

This can be used on-product (packaging) or off-product (marketing Information, website, invoices).

Secondary allowed claims are:

European eel that is traceable from fisher to final product. Caught, handled and traded by SEG certified organisations in line with best practices to support the recovery of the European eel population.

or:

Complies with the best practices for the protection of the European eel, from fishery to customer through a traceable supply chain.

or:

Making a contribution to the protection and recovery of the European eel.

These can be used on-product (packaging) or off-product (marketing information, website, invoices).

How to apply

Before you use the SEG Certified logo, use any SEG Claims or design your packaging, you must enter into a SEG Claims & Labelling User Agreement with SEG.

To do that, please contact us at: standard@sustainableeelgroup.org

Chain of Custody

SEG operates Chain of Custody procedures in its Standard to provide assurance of traceability. For more information see Chain of Custody.

More detailed information

For more information see our 205 SEG Claims and labelling Guide.

Key reading

Rules and procedures for client use of claims

The full rules and procedures for client use of SEG Claims and SEG Certified Logo are detailed in the document 205 SEG Claims and labelling Guide.
Clients must enter into a SEG Claims & Labelling User Agreement with SEG before any Claims or Labelling can be used.
To apply, contact standard@sustainableeelgroup.org.

General information on fees associated with claims use

Under development

Procedures for approving claims and renewing approvals

This is a summary of section 7: Claims Approval Process, in 205 SEG Standard Claims and labelling Guide

Note that eligible applicants are only those that are SEG Certified.

Apply to SEG at: standard@sustainableeelgroup.org to make a request for the Claim(s) sought to be used, and whether / how to use the SEG Certified logo, as specified in the Claims & Labelling Guide.
SEG will review the application for compatibility with the guidelines and criteria and, if eligible, invite the applicant to enter into a SEG Claims & Labelling User Agreement.
Agreements last for the period that a client is SEG Certified, so will be renewed or terminated with SEG Certification.

Procedures for monitoring use of claims and addressing misuse suspending and withdrawing permissions to use claims

SEG will monitor the use of claims through surveillance of clients’ websites, the CAB’s usual audit procedures and through reports from third parties and whistleblowers.

Where claims and labelling have been misused, clients will be offered the opportunity to correct them according to the Claims & Labelling User Agreement. If corrections are not made within the required time SEG Certification will be suspended and the SEG Claims & Labelling User Agreement withdrawn. If necessary, legal action may be taken.
This is described in full in section 11: Monitoring and Compliance in 205 SEG Standard Claims and labelling Guide.

Opportunities for stakeholder input on the clarity, relevance, and accuracy of the scheme’s allowed claims

Stakeholder feedback is welcomed on any aspect of the SEG Standard including its Allowed Claims. Contact: standard@sustainableeelgroup.org.

The mechanism for reporting misuse of claims

If you believe or suspect that the SEG Certified logo or SEG Standard Claims have been misused, please report it to us at: standard@sustainableeelgroup.org.