Seafood giant Thai Union has become the first Asian producer to secure the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) feed certification for its Mahachai Plant in Thailand. The facility, located in Thailand’s Samut Sakhon province just west of Bangkok, produces feeds for seabass, seabream and meagre, tilapia and shrimp.
According to ASC, Thai Union undertook a rigorous audit process over several months. The conclusion of the audit established that their processes and performances meet the ASC Feed Standard’s robust environmental and social requirements. Control Union was the independent certifier.
“We are delighted that Thai Union has joined our Feed Programme. Their certification – the first feed mill certified in Asia – is another landmark moment of progress for ASC’s Feed Standard as it represents the growing global spread of more environmentally and socially responsible feed production,” ASC CEO Chris Ninnes said.
“It is also the first certified mill that produces feed for shrimp. With Asia being a particular global hotspot for shrimp farming, ensuring ASC compliant feed is accessible in the region is a significant step forward in promoting and enabling more responsible shrimp farming practices.”
Peerasak Boonmechote, CEO of Thai Union Feedmill, said securing the first ASC Feed certificate in Asia underscores the company’s “deep commitment to sustainability” at the heart of its operations.
“This is a key step in increasing the availability of responsible feed as part of Thai Union Group’s commitments under its global sustainability strategy, SeaChange 2030. This certification also reinforces our dedication to leading the industry towards a more sustainable and responsible future,” Boonmechote said.
ASC certified farms have until October 2025 to switch to sourcing compliant feed produced under the ASC Feed Standard.
Thai Union will benefit from ASC’s recently announced incentive: feed mills that get certified in 2024 will not have to pay licence fees on the volume of compliant feed they produce this calendar year.
ASC said other feed mills that haven’t already started the certification process should prioritise obtaining ASC Feed Standard certification as soon as possible.
Previous certifications – for Vimifos and Skretting – were achieved for sites in Latin America (Mexico and Chile) earlier this year.
In 2023, ASC and Thai Union announced a collaboration on an Aquaculture Improvement Project for shrimp. Thai Union is one of ASC’s first partners to implement AIPs for a total volume of 15,700 metric tonnes of shrimp by 2026.
ASC’s Feed Standard requires that feed mills meet strict environmental and social requirements; source ingredients from socially responsible suppliers; and use environmentally responsible raw materials. The standard was launched on 15 June 2021 and became effective on 14 January 2023.
