ASC grants feed mills temporary variance on MSL increase due to El Niño

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has approved a Variance Request temporarily suspending the requirement for feed mills to increase their Majority Sustainability Level (MSL) at each subsequent certification cycle, citing the forecast impact of El Niño on marine ingredient availability and cost into 2027.

Standard: ASC Feed Standard, Version 1.2
Indicator: 4.1.5
Status / decision: VR Closed and approved – "Variation Approved – Agree that there is a rationale for a variance against the ASC Requirement"
Applies to: Feed mills, all countries
Release date: 1 October 2026
Effective date: 1 January 2027
Applicability period: 1 January 2027 to 1 January 2029

ASC's rationale cites NOAA's Climate Prediction Centre forecast of a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño event during the Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter 2026–27. Peru's North-Centre anchoveta fishery, which supplies around 50% of global EPA/DHA fish oil, is expected to be severely affected, with the 2026 North-Centre quota the lowest in a decade. ASC notes that while protein can be blended from multiple sources, EPA/DHA-rich marine lipids are harder to replace at scale and speed. Respondents to ASC's Feed Standard costs survey reported marine ingredient cost and supply pressure linked to such external shocks.

MSL is calculated on marine ingredients received in the calendar year before the audit, meaning mills would find it extremely difficult to increase their MSL at re-certification without restricting their sourcing options.

What it means

For mills whose first re-certification audit takes place in 2027 or 2028, indicator 4.1.5 will not apply until their audit in 2029, after which it will apply every three years. For mills whose first re-certification audit takes place in 2029 or later, indicator 4.1.5 will apply as normal. All mills, regardless of audit timing, must still meet the remaining MSL requirements, including indicator 4.1.4, which requires maintaining MSL during the initial certification cycle at a minimum the same as the EL.

What to do now

• Feed mills should check when their first re-certification audit falls to confirm whether indicator 4.1.5 applies to them during 2027–2029.
• Mills should continue to meet indicator 4.1.4, maintaining MSL at least at the EL level throughout the initial certification cycle.
• Certification bodies auditing feed mills under the ASC Feed Standard should apply the variance according to each mill's re-certification timing.
• Stakeholders wishing to comment on the Variance Request can do so via the Variance Request Procedure referenced on ASC's platform.

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Source: Variance request and Interpretation - ASC International (asc-aqua.org)