Variance request and Interpretation platform

This platform is a searchable database of all Variance Requests (VR’s) and Questions for Interpretation (QA’s) submitted to the ASC. Variance Requests are publicly available to improve consistency in understanding and application of ASC standards and Certification & Accreditation Requirements (CAR).

ASC has revised its Variance Request process and developed a normative Variance Request procedure to maintain its transparency and accountability ethos. The Variance Request procedure allows for stakeholders to submit feedback to VR’s related to the ASC species’ standards. To do so, please follow the steps outlined in The Variance Request Procedure.

Prospect

CAB ASC Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Publication date 2025-08-05

Certificate holder

Date of submission 2025-08-05

Status VR Closed and approved

Unit of certification

Species

Country ALL

Reference to other VRs

Document

Document reference Feed

Version Feed CAR v1.0.1

Indicator 21.4.1.

Other relevant indicator/clause 21.2

Background

Background info

Request/Recommendation Due to the challenges feed mills face in sourcing ingredients determined to be low-risk at primary marine and primary plant raw material production, through any of the Due Diligence pathways, it is requested that non-conformities raised against ASC Feed Standard V 1.01 indicator 2.2.9 have an extended deadline to provide sufficient time to close the non-conformity.

Supporting evidence

Determination

Decision of the request Variation Approved – Agree that there is a rationale for a variance against the ASC Requirement

Release date August 5, 2025

Effective date February 1, 2025

Rationale When a feed mill uses marine- or plant-based ingredients determined to be medium-risk (1) for primary raw material production under Due Diligence Pathway 1: ASC Country Scorecards, the CAB shall raise a minor non-conformity against Feed Standard Indicator 2.2.9 with a close-out deadline set for 12 months from the date of detection.
When a feed mill uses marine- or plant-based ingredients determined to be high-risk for primary raw material production under Due Diligence Pathway 1 (ASC Country Scorecards) – alone or in combination with medium risk primary raw materials, the CAB shall raise a non-conformity against Feed Standard Indicator 2.2.9. The grading of the non-conformity shall be determined and clearly justified as required by Feed CAR v1.0.1 requirement 21.2.
Effective close-out of each of the above will be verified during the next routine audit.
ASC is currently reviewing required due diligence outcomes for primary raw materials with a view to revising these in the ASC Feed Standard.
Conditions:
CABs and certificate holders shall observe the following conditions when applying VR1015:

This VR applies to primary raw material production, not the ingredient manufacturer. The ingredient manufacturer must continue to be determined to be low-risk using one of the four Due Diligence pathways as per Feed Standard indicator 2.2.8.
This VR applies to certified and applicant sites entering the ASC Feed Programme audited against the current Feed Standard V1.01
This VR has retroactive application across open NCs on indicator 2.2.9 from 01 February 2025. CABs shall update the grading and deadline of nonconformities raised against indicator 2.2.9 following the instruction and conditions of this VR.

(1) These medium risk ingredients shall be treated as ASC non-eligible ingredients which may be used in both ASC Mass Balance Production Model feed and non-ASC aquafeed.

Applicability

Geographical scope	All

Feedback document

Targeted technical consultation findings

Stakeholder Comment	Date published	Submitted by	Documents

No comments available

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