Editorial Staff | Aquaculture Magazine, with information from ASC
The single global Farm Standard replaces ASC’s species-specific standards; ASC has given producers more time and brought nearly 200 industry stakeholders together in Vietnam to work through the practical questions of implementation.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has extended the transition period for the ASC Farm Standard to 1 May 2028. The new standard brings requirements previously covered by multiple species-specific standards into one global framework. The announcement came alongside a September session in Can Tho, Vietnam, that gathered nearly 200 participants from the Vietnamese aquaculture sector, including producers, processors and exporters, the organization reported on 12 October.
One standard for all species
For producers, the Farm Standard changes how certification requirements are structured. According to ASC, the extended deadline gives farms additional time to prepare while the organization strengthens implementation support.
The Can Tho session was designed as a practical dialogue in which businesses put real-world questions to ASC experts. Topics included antibiotic use, traceability through TraceASC, buffer zones, groundwater monitoring, waste management and certification validity.
Alison Hutchins, Producer Engagement Director at ASC, said that certification standards have to work in the real world to drive meaningful improvements, and that direct engagement with producers helps clarify requirements and identify where additional guidance or support is needed.
Vietnam, a key market in the transition
Vietnam has more than a decade of experience with ASC certification. According to ASC, the country is currently the third-largest producer of ASC-certified shrimp and the largest producer of ASC-certified pangasius.
The transition period for the ASC Farm Standard now runs to 1 May 2028.
Koji Yamamoto, General Manager Japan and Producer Engagement Lead South-east Asia at ASC, noted that producers often face very practical questions: what a requirement means for their farm, how to demonstrate compliance, and what happens when conditions differ between production areas. He added that ASC’s role is not only to publish a standard but to explain the requirements and listen to producers’ experience to identify where clearer guidance or better tools are needed.
Certification beyond the farm gate
The discussions also highlighted that certification increasingly covers the whole value chain. The ASC Feed Standard, for example, includes requirements on environmental performance, labour conditions, governance, supplier due diligence and ingredient traceability, which calls for closer coordination among producers, feed suppliers, processors and other supply-chain partners.
The session also introduced the Aquaculture Improvement Programme (AIP), a structured pathway for businesses not yet ready to meet all certification requirements: participants identify gaps, work toward defined improvement milestones and demonstrate progress through independent verification. ASC and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will continue working with Vietnamese stakeholders through technical engagement, training and dialogue.
Frequently asked questions
When does the ASC Farm Standard transition period end?
ASC has extended the transition period to 1 May 2028, giving producers more time to prepare while it strengthens implementation support.
What changes with the ASC Farm Standard?
It brings requirements previously covered by multiple species-specific standards into one global framework, changing how certification requirements are structured for farms.
What options do businesses have if they do not yet meet all requirements?
ASC’s Aquaculture Improvement Programme (AIP) lets them identify gaps, work toward defined improvement milestones and demonstrate progress through independent verification.
Sources and Methodology
This news item was prepared by the Aquaculture Magazine editorial staff from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) press release of 12 October 2026. Participation figures and Vietnam’s position in certified production are as reported by ASC. Photos: ASC.
