The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has released version 1.1 of its Feed Standard, which will become effective on 1 November, 2025. The update introduces changes aimed at aligning greenhouse gas (GHG) data reporting with the ASC Farm Standard and meeting requirements under new EU deforestation regulations.
The revised standard, published on 1 May, 2025, incorporates feedback from a targeted consultation. A six-month implementation phase has begun, during which feed mills pursuing certification will be audited under the current version, ASC Feed Standard v1.01.
Key changes in version 1.1 include the integration of technical requirements for feed mills into the main standard document. These were previously located in the Feed Certification Requirements for the Unit of Certification (RUoC). Assurance requirements from the RUoC have been moved to the new ASC Farm and Feed Certification and Accreditation Requirements (CAR) v1.0. The RUoC will no longer be used.
Feed mills undergoing certification audits announced on or after 1 November, 2025, must comply with version 1.1 and will be evaluated using the new CAR v1.0. The accompanying ASC Feed Interpretation Manual v1.1, released alongside the updated standard, provides clarifications and updates to align with the changes.
ASC states that the update reflects its continued focus on improving aquaculture practices, particularly in feed production. The revised framework is intended to support responsible growth across the seafood supply chain.
By November 2026, version 1.1 will be the sole version in use for ASC Feed Mill certification.
