ASC Feed Standard Lands in Asia as Thai Union Receives Certification 

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is pleased to announce further uptake of its pioneering Feed Standard, with Thai Union achieving ASC Feed Standard certification for its Mahachai Plant in Thailand.

Thai Union joins the elite leading group of ASC certified feed companies. The single-site certification for their Mahachai Plant, located in Thailand’s Samut Sakhon province just west of Bangkok, is the first ASC Feed Standard certification in Asia. The feed mill produces feed for seabass, seabream and meagre, tilapia and shrimp.

Thai Union undertook a rigorous audit process over several months. The conclusion of the audit established that their processes and performances meet the ASC Feed Standard’s robust environmental and social requirements. Control Union was the independent certifier.

Chris Ninnes, ASC CEO, said, “We are delighted that Thai Union has joined our Feed Programme. Their certification – the first feed mill certified in Asia – is another landmark moment of progress for ASC’s Feed Standard as it represents the growing global spread of more environmentally and socially responsible feed production.

“It is also the first certified mill that produces feed for shrimp. With Asia being a particular global hotspot for shrimp farming, ensuring ASC compliant feed is accessible in the region is a significant step forward in promoting and enabling more responsible shrimp farming practices.”

Peerasak Boonmechote, CEO of Thai Union Feedmill, added, “Securing the first ASC Feed certificate in Asia underscores our deep commitment to sustainability at the heart of our operations. This is a key step in increasing the availability of responsible feed as part of Thai Union Group’s commitments under its global sustainability strategy, SeaChange® 2030. This certification also reinforces our dedication to leading the industry towards a more sustainable and responsible future.”

ASC certified farms have until October 2025 to switch to sourcing compliant feed produced under the ASC Feed Standard.

Thai Union will benefit from ASC’s recently announced incentive: feed mills that get certified in 2024 will not have to pay licence fees on the volume of compliant feed they produce this calendar year. Other feed mills that haven’t already started the certification process should prioritise obtaining ASC Feed Standard certification as soon as possible.

Previous certifications – for Vimifos and Skretting – were achieved for sites in Latin America (Mexico and Chile) earlier this year.

This is another example of partnership between ASC and Thai Union. In 2023, ASC and Thai Union announced a collaboration on an Aquaculture Improvement Project for shrimp. Thai Union is one of ASC’s first partners to implement AIPs for a total volume of 15,700 metric tonnes of shrimp by 2026.

About ASC’s Feed Standard

ASC’s Feed Standard tackles one of the biggest potential environmental and social impacts of aquaculture – the production and supply of feed for farmed fish. The ASC Feed Standard is the first standard to take into consideration the impacts created across all key ingredient groups and throughout the ingredient supply chain, in alignment with upcoming European Union regulations. This includes all major agriculture crops such as wheat, corn and canola, in addition to soy and palm oil, and marine ingredients.

ASC’s Feed Standard requires that feed mills meet strict environmental and social requirements; source ingredients from socially responsible suppliers; and use environmentally responsible raw materials. The Feed Standard was launched on 15 June 2021 and became effective on 14 January 2023.

ASC certified Farms have until October 2025 to change their feed supply to come from mills certified against the Feed Standard. The change in feed supply is necessary for producers to continue meeting the ASC Farm Standards and to retain their certification.