ASC EXTENDS FARM STANDARD TRANSITION DEADLINE AND RELEASES INTERIM UPDATE

ASC extends Farm Standard transition deadline and releases interim update. 

Key announcements

• Mandatory transition to the ASC Farm Standard extended from 1 May 2027 to 1 May 2028
• ASC Farm Standard V1.1 expected to be published in November 2026, subject to ASC governance and approval processes
• Interim version, ASC Farm Standard V1.0.1A, effective from 1 July 2026
• V1.0.1A acts as a practical bridge between the current Farm Standard and V1.1
• V1.0.1A temporarily pauses auditing against selected requirements under review while work continues on Farm Standard V1.1, which remains subject to ASC governance and approval processes

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has extended the transition period for the ASC Farm Standard and released an interim version of the standard to support farms already transitioning.

The mandatory transition date from the ASC species standards to the ASC Farm Standard will move from 1 May 2027 to 1 May 2028, providing farms with an additional year to complete the transition.

The ASC Farm Standard remains the future of ASC certification and is available today for farms wishing to transition. Many farmers are already leading the way and progressing through the process.

The extended transition period provides greater flexibility for farmers while allowing ASC to continue strengthening guidance, tools and implementation support based on practical experience and stakeholder feedback.

ASC expects to publish Farm Standard V1.1 on 1 November 2026, subject to its governance and approval processes.

In the meantime, ASC has released Farm Standard V1.0.1A, an interim version that acts as a practical bridge to V1.1, effective from 1 July 2026 until 1 February 2027. It temporarily pauses auditing against a small number of requirements under review, giving farms greater certainty while work on V1.1 continues.

Ally Dingwall, ASC Chief Technical Officer, said:

“These decisions reflect our commitment to supporting successful adoption of the standard while maintaining its overall ambition and direction.

“The extended transition period provides greater flexibility for farmers and allows us to continue developing the tools, guidance and support needed to help farms transition successfully. We will keep working closely with farmers and auditors throughout this process to ensure they have the resources and assistance they need.

“Feedback from mock audits, pilot audits and the first farms certified to the ASC Farm Standard has provided valuable insights into how the standard operates in practice and where we can make improvements to support effective implementation.

As implementation has progressed, ASC has identified opportunities to improve clarity, consistency and implementation of certain requirements.

In some cases, equivalent information is already captured through existing systems, processes or assurance mechanisms. In others, implementation experience has highlighted opportunities to refine how requirements are applied in practice.

Alison Hutchins, ASC Producer Engagement Director, said:

“Implementing a new global standard is an ongoing process of learning and improvement. Feedback from farmers, auditors and other stakeholders is helping us refine implementation and ensure the Farm Standard remains effective, credible and capable of delivering meaningful environmental and social outcomes. Our focus is on giving farms the guidance and support they need to transition successfully.”

ASC will continue investing in guidance, implementation tools, training and stakeholder engagement to support farms throughout the transition. Further information on the transition extension, Farm Standard V1.0.1A and supporting resources is available through the ASC Programme Centre.

The ASC Farm Standard represents the evolution of ASC certification, bringing together multiple species-specific standards into a single framework that addresses key environmental and social issues across aquaculture production.

Image: ASC

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