Welcome   Sponsored By
Subscribe | Register | Advertise | Newsletter | About us | Contact us
   


ASC Launches Consultation on Major Proposed Improvements to the Programme

Click on the flag for more information about Netherlands NETHERLANDS
Tuesday, March 09, 2021, 08:40 (GMT + 9)

ASC has today launched one of its largest ever public consultations and is asking stakeholders to have their say on major proposed improvements to the programme.

One set of consultations is seeking feedback on proposed environmental requirements for the aligned Farm Standard. This aligned standard will cover all ASC certified species bringing efficiencies and improvements without compromising on quality.  

The second consultation covers the expansion of ASC’s supply chain assurance with the development of the ASC Chain of Custody Module introducing important requirements specifically for farmed fish. Further details on both of these major projects are below.

Chris Ninnes, ASC CEO, said: ‘Both of these consultations concern important innovations in the ASC programme, and as always we want to use the knowledge and experience of our stakeholders to ensure these improvements are as effective as they can be. Multi-stakeholder working is one of ASC’s biggest strengths and I’d like to thank in advance everyone who can contribute to this next chapter in the ASC programme.’

Stakeholder input is an important feature of ASC programme development and anyone can take part in these public consultations, with the feedback of certificate holders, auditors, NGOs and supply chain partners particularly sought. The expertise, experience, and opinions of all ASC’s stakeholders will once again help to shape the future of a programme that is continuously improving.

Stakeholders can view webinars setting out what the new proposals are for each topic, read additional information, and can feedback on any or all of these topics using a survey, on the ASC website. All of this information will be published on Monday 8 March on the ASC Farm Standard consultation page and the ASC Chain of Custody Module consultation page. Both consultations will run for two months, from 8 March to 7 May 2021.

Introduction to ASC CoC Module

Farm Standard


The project to develop the aligned Farm Standard covering all ASC certified species will bring major improvements to the programme. It will provide greater consistency across species and culture systems, delivering efficiency and simplifying the introduction of updates across the programme.

Currently, ASC manages a number of separate farm standards covering different species. They all provide an industry-leading set of robust environmental and social requirements, but because they have been developed at different times, they can vary on how some of the impacts that are common across aquaculture are addressed.  

The aligned Farm Standard will cover all of these common impacts in one robust and thorough standard, which includes species-specific requirements which must also be met by the relevant farms.

Michiel Fransen, Director of ASC Standards and Science, said: ‘ASC’s standards are the most robust in the industry, and that’s not changing. A salmon farm will still have to address all of the impacts of salmon farming under the aligned Farm Standard, and a seabass farm will have to reduce all of the impacts of seabass farming.

‘But what the new standard provides is greater consistency when it comes to the many impacts that are common to most aquaculture – things like siting, energy emissions, escapes, and water use.’

‘This means that culture-system impacts will be holistically covered and species-specific impacts will be retained and be as robust as when originally drafted. All these proposed improvements will go through the same comprehensive development process involving multi-stakeholder expertise and public consultation – but in a more efficient manner because consultation will no longer be required for individual species-standards.’


By developing one comprehensive standard covering all these impacts, ASC will be able to respond to changes in the markets and industry more swiftly – if a new species needs to be added to the programme, the species-specific requirements can be developed and added to the Farm Standard, rather than developing an entire separate standard from scratch.

Full overview of ASC CoC Module

Chris Ninnes said: ‘In an industry as fast-moving as aquaculture, it is important to be able to respond to these new developments, providing updated, credible standards to mitigate any potential impacts. This can never come at the cost of a transparent and robust process. The Farm Standard allows us to find that balance.’

The Farm Standard will be split into three principles. P1 covers legal compliance, P2 covers environmental impacts and P3 covers social impacts. The proposed indicators for P1 and P3 were published for public consultation in 2019, and that feedback is being used to finalise them. The current consultation is looking at P2 –the environmental indicators. Because of the large number of environmental issues covered by ASC standards, these will be divided into two rounds of public consultation.The second round of consultation will take place in September 2021. The full list of what will be covered in each consultation is below.



ASC Chain of Custody Module


ASC is also expanding its Chain of Custody (CoC) requirements to strengthen its supply chain assurances to buyers and consumers and to better address the unique nature of farmed seafood.

Chain of Custody certification provides traceability along the entire supply chain ensuring that only certified seafood is sold with the ASC label. Since 2012, ASC has used MSC’s CoC certification to cover ASC certified product supply chains. This robust system is the leading international standard for seafood segregation and traceability and it covers the entire supply chain, from farm to final sale. ASC and MSC work closely together and have many shared objectives and a strong collective ambition to maintain and innovate this aspect of our certification programmes.

Chris Ninnes said: ‘That to fulfil this ambition additional requirements are needed is due to inherent differences in producing farmed and wild seafood. Additionally, as the ASC programme grows, a new suite of assurance activities and tools to address emergent issues such as seafood fraud, food safety and use of substances such as antibiotics are needed.



‘These new ASC requirements reflect and establish global best practice to address these issues and begin to incorporate innovation through use of technology such as digital traceability and product authentication techniques.’


The new requirements will be in addition to the existing MSC Chain of Custody requirements, and will apply only to ASC Chain of Custody certificate holders. The new module will have implications for stakeholders, particularly Chain of Custody certificate holders and Certification Assessment Bodies (CABs). However, ASC will work to ensure that impacts are minimised.  

Wendy Banta, ASC Senior Programme Assurance Manager, said: ‘These improvements help make the programme more effective and adaptive to new challenges, which will provide increased value and assurance to stakeholders. They are part of our ongoing work to constantly improve the ASC programme.

‘Giving our stakeholders a chance to provide feedback on our plans is another big part of that work, so we’re encouraging anyone who might be affected by these proposals to take part in the consultation.’


Next steps


Feedback from both consultations will be used to adapt the new proposals. The Farm Standard’s P1 and P3 requirements, covering legal and social indicators respectively, are currently being finalised following feedback from stakeholders and are due to be released this year. The next round of public consultation for the remaining P2 indicators will take place in September this year. After this feedback has been collated and reflected upon, a final round of public consultation on the complete proposed P2 will take place next year, followed by release.

The ASC Chain of Custody Module will be adapted based on this round of public consultation.

All final releases will be followed by a six- to twelve-month effective period to allow auditors and certificate holders to adjust

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media


 Print


Click to know how to advertise in FIS
MORE NEWS
Norway
Jul 7, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Norwegian Seafood Exports Soar: Herring and Mackerel See Record Prices and Strong Demand in First Half of 2025
United States
Jul 7, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
End of an Era: Beloved US Lobster Purveyor Files for Bankruptcy After Decades of Service
Mexico
Jul 7, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Mexico Bets Big on Tilapia Self-Sufficiency: Boosting Aquaculture as a Pillar of Food Sovereignty
Spain
Jul 7, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Spanish Fishing Seeks Revival: II Seafood Forum Drives Innovation and Sustainability Amid Falling Consumption
France
Jul 7, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Chilean Companies Successfully Boost Seafood Products in the French Market
Japan
Jul 7, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Mori Trust Invests Big in Sustainable Land-Based Salmon Farming in Japan
Argentina
Jul 7, 00:00 (GMT + 9):
Argentina Authorizes U.S. Research Vessel Falkor (Too) to Conduct Scientific Work in National Waters
Uruguay
Jul 6, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
ALPESCAS Urges Resolution in Labor Conflict Threatening Uruguayan Industrial Fishing
United States
Jul 4, 15:00 (GMT + 9):
IN BRIEF - National Fisheries Institute Statement on Section 139L of the OBBB Act
Viet Nam
Jul 4, 07:00 (GMT + 9):
US Tariff Pressure Casts Shadow Over Vietnam's Seafood Exports, Slowing Growth in June
South Korea
Jul 4, 06:00 (GMT + 9):
South Korea's Frozen Mackerel Imports Skyrocket in First Half of 2025
China
Jul 4, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Global Squid Prices See Significant Rise in June Driven by Supply Shocks
Norway
Jul 4, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Norwegian Salmon and Trout Conquer Global Markets Amidst Shifting Tides
Norway
Jul 4, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Norwegian Seafood Exports Hit Record High in First Half of 2025
Faroe Islands
Jul 4, 00:10 (GMT + 9):
Bakkafrost Reports Strong Q2 Harvests, But Scottish Mortality Costs Soar



Lenguaje
FEATURED EVENTS
  
TOP STORIES
Scientists Convene in Shanghai to Discuss Giant Squid Conservation and Management
China Experts underscore the urgent need for enhanced biological and stock knowledge of the resource. Shanghai - The president of the Committee for the Sustainable Management of Giant Squid (CALAMASUR...
New Report Unlocks Opportunities for Norwegian Snow and King Crab in the U.S. Market
United States Fresh insights aim to strengthen Norway's premium position amid rising demand and unique market advantages. OSLO – Norway's seafood industry is strategically positioning itself globally, with sig...
Global Squid Prices See Significant Rise in June Driven by Supply Shocks
China The overall price index for China's ocean-going squid surged in June 2025, reaching 281.07 points. While the Southwest Atlantic saw a supply glut, sudden fishing closures in the Southeast Pacific and ...
Indonesian Fisheries Sector Sees Strong Growth in Q1 2025, Exports Up 6.5%
Indonesia Fisheries production rises 2%, signaling positive trends for national food security and economic contribution. JAKARTA – Indonesia's fisheries sector demonstrated robust growth in the first qua...
 

Umios Corporation | Maruha Nichiro Corporation
Nichirei Corporation - Headquarters
Pesquera El Golfo S.A.
Ventisqueros - Productos del Mar Ventisqueros S.A
Wärtsilä Corporation - Wartsila Group Headquarters
ITOCHU Corporation - Headquarters
BAADER - Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH+Co.KG (Head Office)
Inmarsat plc - Global Headquarters
Marks & Spencer
Tesco PLC (Supermarket) - Headquarters
Sea Harvest Corporation (PTY) Ltd. - Group Headquarters
I&J - Irvin & Johnson Holding Company (Pty) Ltd.
AquaChile S.A. - Group Headquarters
Pesquera San Jose S.A.
Nutreco N.V. - Head Office
CNFC China National Fisheries Corporation - Group Headquarters
W. van der Zwan & Zn. B.V.
SMMI - Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Co., Ltd. - Headquarters
Icicle Seafoods, Inc
Starkist Seafood Co. - Headquearters
Trident Seafoods Corp.
American Seafoods Group LLC - Head Office
Marel - Group Headquarters
SalMar ASA - Group Headquarters
Sajo Industries Co., Ltd
Hansung Enterprise Co.,Ltd.
BIM - Irish Sea Fisheries Board (An Bord Iascaigh Mhara)
CEFAS - Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
COPEINCA ASA - Corporacion Pesquera Inca S.A.C.
Chun Cheng Fishery Enterprise Pte Ltd.
VASEP - Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters & Producers
Gomes da Costa
Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. (Headquarters)
NISSUI - Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. - Group Headquarters
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization - Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (Headquarter)
Hagoromo Foods Co., Ltd.
Koden Electronics Co., Ltd. (Headquarters)
A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S - Headquarters
BVQI - Bureau Veritas Quality International (Head Office)
UPS - United Parcel Service, Inc. - Headquarters
Brim ehf (formerly HB Grandi Ltd) - Headquarters
Hamburg Süd Group - (Headquearters)
Armadora Pereira S.A. - Grupo Pereira Headquarters
Costa Meeresspezialitäten GmbH & Co. KG
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Headquarters)
Mowi ASA (formerly Marine Harvest ASA) - Headquarters
Marubeni Europe Plc -UK-
Findus Ltd
Icom Inc. (Headquarter)
WWF Centroamerica
Oceana Group Limited
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. - Headquarters
Friosur S.A. - Headquarters
Cargill, Incorporated - Global Headquarters
Benihana Inc.
Leardini Pescados Ltda
CJ Corporation  - Group Headquarters
Greenpeace International - The Netherlands | Headquarters
David Suzuki Foundation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada -Communications Branch-
Mitsui & Co.,Ltd - Headquarters
NOREBO Group (former Ocean Trawlers Group)
Natori Co., Ltd.
Carrefour Supermarket - Headquarters
FedEx Corporation - Headquarters
Cooke Aquaculture Inc. - Group Headquarters
AKBM - Aker BioMarine ASA
Seafood Choices Alliance -Headquarter-
Austevoll Seafood ASA
Walmart | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Supermarket) - Headquarters
New Japan Radio Co.Ltd (JRC) -Head Office-
Gulfstream JSC
Marine Stewardship Council - MSC Worldwide Headquarters
Royal Dutch Shell plc (Headquarter)
Genki Sushi Co.,Ltd -Headquarter-
Iceland Pelagic ehf
AXA Assistance Argentina S.A.
Caterpillar Inc. - Headquarters
Tiger Brands Limited
SeaChoice
National Geographic Society
AmazonFresh, LLC - AmazonFresh

Copyright 1995 - 2025 Seafood Media Group Ltd.| All Rights Reserved.   DISCLAIMER