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Feed Dependent

Species

Indicator 2.2.1

Requirement

The UoC shall1818An exemption applies for the following species groups: tilapia, pangasius, bivalve and abalone. ensure that the site is not located in Protected Areas (PA). An exception applies where conditional siting is allowed according to Appendix 4.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Conditional allowances to the siting in Protected Areas (PA) have been taken from the ASC species standards while work is ongoing to develop updated conditional allowances.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Whether the site is in a PA and if so, provide evidence that the PA meets the conditional allowances specified in Appendix 4. This includes the demonstration of the Protected Areas Management Plan.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Whether the site is in a PA. If so, evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the site meets the conditional allowances in Appendix 4 (4.2).

Useful Resources

Indicator 2.1.2

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the ERA (see Indicator 2.1.1) is conducted by a person with the necessary competencies, experience and training that is appropriate to the size and complexity of the site. For larger, more complex sites, an independent person shall conduct the ERA. This person shall: a. have an academic background in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or an equivalent field of study; and b. have a minimum of 5 years of experience in conducting ERA, including survey design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation. In cases where legal requirements are defined, the UoC shall ensure that the person conducting the ERA complies with these requirements.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • An independent person is required to conduct the ERA for larger, more complex sites. However, small-scale or extensive aquaculture sites are not expected to contract an independent person to conduct the ERA.

  • To demonstrate competence, personnel conducting the ERA for small-scale or extensive aquaculture sites should be able to:

    • Analyse environmental risks.

    • Conduct data analysis.

      • Record, review and authorise the release of results.

    • Contribute to or produce reports that can clearly and concisely follow the method outlined in Appendix 3.1.

      • Have undergone training, or have experience, relating to ERAs.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Documents outlining the person conducting the ERA has experience and competences that are relevant to the size and complexity of the site.

  • For larger, more complex sites, documents outlining the qualifications and experience of the independent person conducting the ERA.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Evidence and documents have been presented to demonstrate the person conducting the ERA has the necessary experience, competencies and qualifications.

  • Auditor discretion is permitted to determine whether the experience, competences and qualifications are suitable for the size of the site.

Indicator 2.1.1

Requirement

The UoC shall conduct an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) per site, following the method outlined in Appendix 3 (3.3).

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Indicator 1.4.7

Requirement

The UoC shall report to ASC the production volumes and sales/dispatch volumes of ASC certified and non-certified products originating from each site, and submit specified traceability data (when requested), according to ASC data submission procedures.

No additional guidance is provided for this indicator.

Indicator 1.4.6

Requirement

The UoC shall disclose to buyers of their ASC certified product, upon request, a list of all veterinary therapeutants applied to the product.

No additional guidance is provided for this indicator.

Indicator 1.4.5

Requirement

The UoC shall not sell or dispatch the following as ASC certified: a. crustaceans treated with antibiotics at the UoC, or b. any product treated with antimicrobials listed as Critically Important Antimicrobials for Human Medicine by the World Health Organisation (WHO), at any stage in the lifecycle of the product.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • This requirement addresses situations where a product may conform to the Standard, however it cannot be sold or dispatched as ASC certified.

  • The UoC should:

    • Maintain detailed records of any antibiotic treatments applied prior to the UoC (see Indicator 1.5.2).

    • Implement a process to ensure that the product under 1.4.5(a) or (b) is not sold or dispatched as ASC certified.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records:

    • antibiotic treatments, including those applied prior to the UoC.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • UoC’s process to ensure that the product under 1.4.5(a) or (b) is not sold or dispatched as ASC certified.

Indicator 1.4.4

Requirement

Indicator applicability: every UoC using compound feed The UoC shall disclose to all buyers of their ASC certified product when a product’s feed contains >0.9%77European Council. (2003). Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 concerning the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms and amending Directive 2001/18/EC. European Parliament, Council of the European Union. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) or macro ingredients produced from GMO.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The required disclosure is to the UoC’s buyers of ASC certified products.

  • A public disclosure is possible but not required.

  • The UoC shall ensure buyers are informed when a product’s feed contains or is produced from GMO.

  • Disclosure may be provided to buyers individually or collectively.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records:

    • disclosure to buyers.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Evidence of disclosure to buyers.

Indicator 1.4.3

Requirement

Indicator applicability: every UoC using compound feed The UoC shall demonstrate that feed products, subject to conformance with Indicator 2.12.1, are accompanied by the following information: a. the originating feed mill holds valid certification against the ASC Feed Standard with the appropriate scope of certification in relation to the ASC Production Model (i.e. Mass Balance Production Model or Segregation Production Model product); and b. feed is traceable as ASC-conforming throughout all steps between the feed mill and site; and c. documentation accompanying the feed identifies the feed as ASC-conforming; and d. documentation accompanying the feed identifies the production model applied (i.e. Mass Balance Production Model or Segregation Production Model); and e. for ASC-conforming Segregation Production Model feed, the product is identifiable by a distinct feed name in formal documentation accompanying the product and is listed on the schedule to the feed mill certificate.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Indicator 2.12.1 requires the UoC to only use ASC-conforming compound feed.

  • Use of non-conforming feed will be treated as a non-conformity against Indicator 2.12.1.

  • For product which is sold under the segregation model, identifying the feed production model and distinct feed name is required by the ASC Feed Standard, Indicator 3.3.2.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Process to confirm the originating feed mill holds valid certification against the ASC Feed Standard.

  • Records:

    • traceability system and its verification, for example:

      • use of a digital traceability system

      • outcome of any input-output exercises and traceability tests.

      • accompanying documents incorporating information required by 1.4.3(c), (d) and (e).

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Process to confirm the originating feed mill holds valid certification against the ASC Feed Standard.

  • Effective traceability and segregation systems are in place.

  • Outcome of any input-output exercises and traceability tests.

Indicator 1.3.2

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that information provided as evidence of conformance to the ASC Requirements is not falsified or misrepresented.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Records are documented information that provides permanent evidence about past events. They should:

    • Be completed and maintained in a way that ensures information is accurate and preserved;

    • Be genuine;

      • they should be completed at the time of the checks or shortly after.

    • Capture and illustrate information when processes do not perform as expected.

      • for example, if the cooling system ceases to work, it is important that temperatures above the acceptable range according to internal requirements are recorded so that management can learn from these events.

        • recording temperatures only within the acceptable range will lead to management not understanding that a backup temperature regulator might be needed.

    • Be legible;

    • Be complete;

      • which may include a form of authorisation through the initials of the supervisor verifying records are complete;

  • Be stored appropriately:

    • paper records should be stored in a way that prevents damage.

    • where records are stored electronically, this storage should be backed up.

    • If incidences of falsification of records or misrepresentation of information are identified, corrective action and actions to prevent recurrence should be taken.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records:

    • that demonstrate genuineness.

    • corrective action and actions to prevent recurrence when incidences of falsification of records or misrepresentation of information are identified.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • records and their genuineness

  • effectiveness of corrective action and actions to prevent

Indicator 1.3.1

Requirement

The UoC shall discourage all forms of corruption and shall encourage ethical behaviour and integrity in their business operations.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Corruption can:

    • Happen anywhere;

    • Involve anyone;

    • Take many forms. For example:

      • extortion

      • embezzlement

      • bribery

  • Examples of corruption are:

    • A manager buys supplies from a friend and in return, the friend gives 20% of the profits to the manager. This may go as far as the manager excluding other appropriate suppliers from the system of approved suppliers.

    • A piece of infrastructure has an unsafe mechanism and the owner pays the manager cash to not disclose this at the next audit.

  • Examples of extortion are:

    • Employee A threatens to provide information to the manager which could get Employee B into trouble or fired, unless Employee A is paid a requested amount of money.

    • A site owner threatens to hurt the owner of the neighbouring plot of land unless the land-owner agrees to give up some of his land so that the site can build an additional building.

  • Examples of embezzlement are:

    • A site manager getting cash from the first point of sale in exchange for under-declaring harvest volumes (i.e. the purchaser receiving more product that they are paying for).

    • A sourcing manager purchases cheaper non-eligible feed but registers them as eligible and provides documentation falsely declaring it as more costly eligible feed, as financial sourcing performance increases the sourcing manager’s bonus.

  • Examples of bribery are:

    • A supplier buys a new car for a site manager, in exchange for the site manager giving the sourcing contract to that supplier.

    • A site pays cash to customs officials to speed up the passage of their feed through the import and export system.

    • A sustainability manager offers auditors excessive accommodation and lunches to reduce the audit effort or to turn a blind eye to non-conformities.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Policies preventing corruption, including extortion, embezzlement and bribery.

  • Terms of dismissal should employees engage in these practices.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Management and employees are aware of:

    • what these practices involve and how to recognise them.

    • the policies in place for preventing corruption, including extortion, embezzlement and bribery.

Useful Resources