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ASC Responds to 2024 Consultation Feedback
The summary report from the final 2024 stakeholder consultation on the new ASC Farm Standard is now published, alongside summary reports on the 2024 consultations on the Feed Standard and the new Certification and Accreditation Requirements (CAR).
These consultations form part of a multi-year effort to ensure that insights from our key stakeholders have informed the development of the ASC Farm Standard, as well as the Feed Standard and the CAR. All three updates will be launched in May 2025.
Hundreds of responses have been collected as part of these consultation efforts. Thanks to all of our stakeholders for providing feedback. You can learn more about these consultations here.
Farm Standard consultation summary
The new ASC Farm Standard unifies previous species-specific standards into a single, streamlined framework built around four core principles: legal compliance and effective business management; environmental stewardship; respecting and promoting human rights; and responsible animal health and welfare practices.
Between March and June 2024, ASC conducted a range of consultation activities on the ASC Farm Standard, attracting 220 responses from various organisations around the world, including producers, CABs and auditors, NGOs and retailers. In addition, a total of 34 in-depth direct interviews with producers were held across the world. A stakeholder survey was also conducted that received 622 responses.
To refine the Standard, ASC focused the 2024 consultation on key areas requiring further input such as greenhouse gas emissions, animal health and welfare and human rights.
Feed Standard consultation summary
The Feed Standard v1.1 includes post-consultation changes to greenhouse gas reporting requirements in recognition of data limitations. Other changes include enhancements to the ASC Greenhouse Gas Calculator, adding additional clarity on its methods and data sources, along with added flexibility to deforestation/conversion cutoffs for lower-risk ingredients. You can learn more about the Feed Standard here.
Read the summary report and ASC response here.
Documents
Certification and Accreditation Requirements (CAR) consultation summary
The CAR outlines the assurance requirements and processes that will support the ASC Farm Standard and the ASC Feed Standard certification programmes.
The new version of the CAR includes a number of improvements including streamlining the audit process from application to certification, simplification of Group Requirements, updates to critical non-conformity actions, amendments to auditor and Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) personnel competency, and an amended unannounced audit programme based on number of clients.
Read the summary report and ASC response here.
Documents
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