Accepted Certification Schemes

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1. Standard Setting 

(ISEAL code compliant members automatically meet the Standard Setting Criteria). 

It is important that the development of a standard is transparent and that it reflects a balance of stakeholder interests as per ISEAL Standard-Setting Code of Good Practice. 

1.1 Is a standard setting procedure made available? 

Yes, this should be publicly available on the website or available on request. 

1.2 Is the standard publicly consulted on? 

Yes, for at least 60 days. 

1.3 Is a multi-stakeholder group involved in the governance process of the standard? 

Yes, this should include stakeholders that are directly affected. Note this is about who is involved in the governance process, not who is consulted.  

1. Auditing 

It is important that the verification process for a standard is credible.  

2.1 Is the conformity assessment/audit performed by a person or body that is independent of the scheme owner? 

Yes. 

Third-party verification provides a higher level of confidence and credibility that a given level of compliance or progress has been achieved through an independent, external assessment. 

2.2 Is the conformity assessment/audit performed by a person or body that is accredited to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 or ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015? 

Yes. 

Third-party verification is more credible if it is subject to a governance or oversight mechanism that helps to ensure the quality and legitimacy of the verification process. Accreditation is independent third-party recognition that an organisation has the competence and impartiality to perform specific technical activities such as certification, testing and inspection. 

2.3 Is an initial audit required to achieve certification? 

Yes, practices are checked at each unit of certification. 

Self – declaration or external verification of an internal control system is not accepted. 

Group/multi-site certification is accepted if assurance procedures are defined (see https://www.isealalliance.org/defining-credible-practice/iseal-codes-good-practice) 

An initial audit is required to determine conformance with the scheme requirements. 

2.4 How often is a full re-assessment audit required? 

Must be at least every 5 years, with surveillance audits in-between. 

A periodic re-assessment is required to determine conformance with the scheme requirements. 

1. Traceability  

To determine the level of risk, the material must be traced back to 

specific areas, producers, or intermediate suppliers for which 

performance against the risk factors is known. Achieving adequate 

traceability is therefore an essential component of establishing and managing a responsible supply chain. 

3.1 Which traceability / CoC model is used? (for plant/marine raw material production only) 

Must be either: 

• Identity Preserved 
• Segregated 
• Mass Balance  

Certificate trading models are not accepted. 

For definitions of the different models see ISEAL. 

Identity Preservation models provide the greatest level of connection and transparency between the product and the sustainability claim, then segregated, then mass balance and certificate trading models the least 

The ASC Feed Standard requirements were developed to align with the principles of the Accountability Framework initiative. Purchase of certified materials or credits using a mass-balance or book-and-claim system signifies a contribution to supporting ethical commodities. However, it might not demonstrate that materials in the supply chain are deforestation or conversion-free, or produced with respect for human rights as envisaged by the AFi. They usually do not provide information about environmental or social performance for the non-certified physical materials in the supply chain. 

ASC recognises that it would be difficult for feed mills to source only IP or segregated materials in a short time frame and at the volumes required. Therefore mass-balance traceability models are accepted by the ASC for this version of the Feed Standard. We will review this in line with the next Standard update. 

Certificate trading models are not accepted as there is no physical link to the product in the supply chain. 

3.2 Does the scheme have traceability requirements? (for plant/marine raw material production only) 

Must be traceable back to a geographical area in which all farms that may be the source of a defined primary raw material are located.  

OR 

Must be traceable back to a fishery. 

ASC Feed Standard indicator 2.2.4 requires feed mills to annually publish the primary raw material and the country(ies)/fishery(ies) of primary raw material production. 

From the start of the second certificate cycle onwards, feed mills must publish the production region(s) within the country(ies) of primary raw material production on an annual basis. This only applies to terrestrial plant-derived ingredients (indicator 2.2.4). 

1. Standard Content  

(related to risk factors) 

4.1.1 Does it address the ingredient manufacturer legal risk?  

Must require the ingredient manufacturer to be in possession of all required legal licenses and permits. 

The normative scope of a standard must address the risk factors as required by the ASC Feed Standard. 

4.1.2 Does it address the ingredient manufacturer social risk? 

Must require the ingredient manufacturer to: 

• comply with all applicable labour laws & regulations 
• not be engaged in, or support, forced labour 
• protect children & young workers 
• not discriminate against its employees 
• provide an effective grievance mechanism 

4.1.3 Does it address the ingredient manufacturer environmental risk? 

Must require the ingredient manufacturer to: 

• comply with all applicable environmental laws & regulations 
• use water responsibly 
• handle waste responsibly 
• handle effluent responsibly 
• disclose the presence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), or ingredients produced from GMO 
• disclose the active compound and inclusion levels of added antibiotics or other added medicinal additives. 

4.2.1 Does it address the marine-based primary raw material legal risk? 

Must require the fishery to comply with all national and international law and not be engaged in illegal fishing by conducting well documented, well managed harvest practices. For example, illegal catch estimates are taken into account to adequately evaluate the status of the fished population. 

4.2.2 Does it address the marine-based primary raw material social risk? 

Must require the fishery and/or the vessels within a fishery to not be engaged in, or support forced labour or worst forms of child labour. 

4.2.3 Does it address the marine-based primary raw material environmental risk? 

Must require the fishery to: 

- not be engaged in unreported or unregulated fishing. For example, through ensuring reporting of retained or discarded catches with legally mandated monitoring; transparent decision-making through well-documented advice on stock status or clear conflict resolution processes; effective Monitoring Control & Surveillance mechanisms. 

• not fish species that are IUCN endangered or critically endangered species. 
• - not fish species that appear in the CITES appendices. 

4.3.1 Does it address the plant-based primary raw material legal risk? 

Must require the farm to comply with all applicable environmental laws & regulations, particularly those related to land use. 

Soy schemes that are compliant with the FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines 2023 meet this requirement. 

4.3.2 Does it address the plant-based primary raw material social risk? 

Must require the farm to not be engaged in, or support forced labour or worst forms of child labour. 

Soy schemes that are compliant with the FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines 2023 meet this requirement. 

4.3.3 Does it address the plant-based primary raw material environmental risk? 

Must require the farm to not be engaged in illegal deforestation/conversion. 

Soy schemes that are compliant with the FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines 2023 meet this requirement. 

4.4.1 Does it address the plant-based primary raw material environmental risk? 

Must require the farm to not be engaged in legal deforestation / conversion. 

Soy schemes that are compliant with the FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines 2023 and the specific essential criterion on conversion-free soy meet this requirement.