Chain of Custody Standard

ASC conducted a second consultation on the ASC Chain of Custody (CoC Module) Review

Following a successful preliminary consultation in 2025 (summary report available here), ASC held a second consultation on the revision of the ASC Chain of Custody (CoC) Module.

A summary of stakeholder feedback and next steps will be available soon.

The revised ASC CoC Module will be known as the ASC Supply Chain Module to reflect its wider scope beyond traceability. This consultation ran from 2 March 2026 until 17 May. We consulted on proposals in relation to:

1. Human rights
2. Humane slaughter
3. Amendments to food safety
4. Other changes to traceability and conformance
5. The ASC Supply Chain Module document

The survey was available in English, French, Japanese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

This slide deck contains background information and explains proposals on the consultation topics. This resource is also available in other languages, below. 

The complete ASC Supply Chain Module draft is available in English and in Japanese. 

Human rights proposals include certificate holders implementing an ASC Human Rights Code of Conduct and publishing a human rights policy. This proposal involves specific responsibilities for CABs and auditors.

In terms of humane slaughter, ASC proposes to apply specific ASC Farm Standard requirements to slaughter when it is conducted in the post-farm supply chain.

ASC further proposes to maintain the food safety requirement with specific amendments, and make improvements to traceability and conformance.
MSC is also currently reviewing its CoC Standard.

Further resources are available for the current stakeholder consultation:

• Project Terms of Reference
• Offline version of the survey questions
• Slide deck with background information in French
• Slide deck with background information in Japanese
• Slide deck with background information in Spanish
• Slide deck with background information in Vietnamese

If you have any questions, please contact assurance@asc-aqua.org.

In May – June 2025, we held a preliminary stakeholder consultation on the Module revision. We received over 100 responses from stakeholders across the world, on topics including:   

• The revision project Terms of Reference  
• How to tackle human rights issues in the supply chain 
• The inclusion of humane slaughter requirements 
• Other topics such as food safety, digital traceability and ASC improver products 

Please see here the summary report summarising the stakeholder feedback and ASC response.

A further 60-day consultation will be conducted starting in March 2026 on the specific proposals to develop the revised ASC CoC Module. 

Please see here for:  

• The revision project Terms of Reference  
• Further background information behind the 2025 consultation  
• The ASC CoC Module  
• More information about the MSC CoC Standard 
• Complete 2025 consultation survey responses
• List of 2025 consultation participants

If you have any questions about the ASC CoC Module Revision, please contact Wendy Banta

Inclusion of human rights requirements for companies in the supply chain

• MSC has removed the option for companies with a Chain of Custody certificate to undergo third-party labour audits as a way to meet MSC CoC requirements;
• Our vision and mission includes social as well as environmental responsibility, across feed, farms and companies processing and selling seafood in the supply chain;
• To align with social requirements across our programme, ASC is committed to including human rights requirements for companies in the post-farm supply chain – an important focal point for the ongoing ASC Chain of Custody (CoC) Module review process;
• We recognise that announced social audits, in isolation, do not provide a solution to all human rights issues in supply chains but are one ‘tool in the box’ in assisting businesses to demonstrate social responsibility;
• We believe a layered approach is required, incorporating a number of measures, to deliver overarching assurance on human rights compliance;
• Our updated and improved ASC Module, as outlined above, is planned for release in 2027.
• In the interim period prior to the revised ASC CoC Module effective date, MSC labour requirements will continue to apply to ASC CoC certificate holders.