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ASC Farm Standard: Interim Version Released
We have reviewed the ASC Farm Standard based on feedback, recognising the current reality for farmers – including external and regulatory pressures and increasing operational costs.
A full revision of the standard, ASC Farm Standard V1.1, will be released on 1 November 2026. This version will become effective from 1 February 2027, and mandatory from 1 May 2028 onwards.
In the meantime, ASC Farm Standard V1.0.1A2 is an interim version that has a number of indicators and sections of the appendices marked as ‘not in use’. It is important to note that no standard content has been modified. The intention of this interim version is to prevent producers already transitioning from being disadvantaged by ensuring they do not invest time and resources in implementing requirements that will be updated or removed in the upcoming ASC Farm Standard V1.1.
ASC Farm Standard V1.0.1A2 was released and became effective 5 August 2026, immediately replacing V1.0.1A. ASC Farm Standard V1.0.1.A2 will be used for any ASC Farm Standard audits starting on or after this date, up until the effective date of V1.1 on 1 February 2027.
The affected indicators and sections of the appendices have been greyed and crossed out for clarity in ASC Farm Standard V1.0.1A2 and are listed in the table below.
| Affected sections | V1.0.1A2 changes from V1.0.1A | |
|---|---|---|
| Indicators 1.5.1-1.5.3 | Supply Chain |
o 1.5.1-1.5.2 not in use o 1.5.3 now partially in use (applicable only for salmon) |
| Indicators 2.1.1-2.1.2 | Environmental Risk Assessment |
o 2.1.1 now in use o 2.1.2 now partially in use |
| Indicator 2.2.10 | Ecologically Important Habitats | Not in use |
| Indicator 2.3.12 | Wildlife Interactions | Not in use |
| Indicator 2.4.7 | Escapes and Native Biodiversity | Not in use |
| Indicator 2.4.10 | Escapes and Native Biodiversity | Not in use |
| Indicator 2.4.13 | Escapes and Native Biodiversity | Not in use |
| Indicators 2.4.16-2.4.21 | Escapes and Native Biodiversity |
o 2.4.16 now in use o 2.4.17-2.4.21 not in use |
| Indicator 2.5.6 | Benthic Impact | Not in use |
| Indicator 2.6.2 | Water Quality | Not in use |
| Indicator 2.6.4 | Water Quality | Not in use |
| Indicator 3.3.4 | Child Labour | 3.3.4 now not in use |
| Indicator 3.5.7 | Health and Safety | Not in use |
| Indicator 3.6.4 | Collective Bargaining and Freedom of Association | Not in use |
| Indicator 4.1.1.10.5 | Fish (including Cleaner Fish) – Health and Welfare | Not in use |
| Indicator 4.1.1.28 | Fish (including Cleaner Fish) – Health and Welfare | Not in use |
| Indicator 4.2.1.4 | Crustaceans – Health and Welfare | 4.2.1.4 now in use |
| Indicator 4.2.1.8.5 | Crustaceans – Health and Welfare | Not in use |
| Indicator 4.2.1.12 | Crustaceans – Health and Welfare | Not in use |
| Indicators 4.3.1-4.3.9 | Bivalves and Abalone | Not in use |
| Indicators 4.4.18-4.4.19 | Veterinary therapeutants | Not in use |
| Indicator 4.5.18 | Parasite Management (Sea Lice) | Not in use |
| Indicator 4.5.19 | Parasite Management (Sea Lice) | 4.5.19 now not in use |
| Indicator 4.5.20 | Parasite Management (Sea Lice) | Not in use |
| Appendix section 3.3 | Environmental Risk Assessment requirements (Indicator 2.1.1) | Appendix section 3.3 now in use |
| Appendix section 6.2 | EICAT contextualisation (Indicators 2.4.10 and 2.4.13) | Not in use |
| Appendix section 8.11 | Dissolved oxygen measurement (Indicators 2.6.19 to 2.6.22) | Appendix section 8.11 now partially in use |
| Appendix 14 | Supply chain requirements | Appendix 14 now partially in use (applicable only for salmon) |
What’s Happening When?
| 5 August 2026 | ASC Farm Standard V1.0.1A2 release and effective date (this version will be used for any ASC Farm Standard audits starting on or after this date) |
| 1 November 2026 | ASC Farm Standard V1.1 release date |
| 1 February 2027 | ASC Farm Standard V1.1 effective date; ASC Farm Standard V1.0.1A inactive (this version cannot be used for any audits starting on or after this date) |
| 1 May 2028 | ASC Farm Standard V1.1 mandatory date, all audits starting on or after this date shall be conducted against this version; ASC Species Standards inactive |
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