Respect Community Rights and Local Stakeholders Under ASC Feed

Local community engagement under ASC Feed Standard

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council established mandatory rules governing community relations and indigenous rights under Criterion 1.12 and Criterion 1.13 in version 1.2 of the ASC Feed Standard. This affects quality managers, compliance leads, facility managers and community liaison officers at certified feed manufacturing facilities. Certified feed mills must maintain open communication with surrounding communities, respect legal and customary land rights, and obtain free prior and informed consent when operating on indigenous territories. Conformity Assessment Body auditors inspect community meeting logs, land ownership dockets and dispute resolution records during initial and annual surveillance audits.

Feed manufacturing plants can impact nearby communities through heavy vehicle traffic, noise, odour emissions, water extraction and effluent discharge. Establishing constructive relationships with local stakeholders prevents social conflict, protects community health and supports stable operating conditions across regional processing zones. The scope of Criterion 1.12 and Criterion 1.13 applies to all operational sites, raw material storage facilities and worker accommodation complexes under Criterion 1.14. Failing to engage local communities or ignoring land rights disputes indicates a social non-conformity.

Auditors examine public notification notices, review community grievance registers under Criterion 1.3 and interview local community representatives to verify compliance. Where feed mills expand processing infrastructure, increase water extraction volumes or alter transport routes, management must consult affected residents prior to project implementation. In addition, feed mills must extend community protection rules to ingredient manufacturers and primary raw material producers under Principle 2 Due Diligence. Demonstrating responsible community stewardship builds trust and safeguards operational license across global aquafeed supply chains.

Four pillars of community impact management

Feed manufacturers must implement structured operational controls across four core community impact pillars defined under Criterion 1.12 and Appendix 7:

• Stakeholder consultation: Management must conduct periodic consultation meetings with local community representatives, local authorities and neighbouring residents to explain factory operations and environmental safeguards.
• Operational impact mitigation: Facilities must implement practical measures to minimize heavy traffic congestion, industrial noise levels, dust emissions and unpleasant odours during manufacturing hours.
• Transparent dispute resolution: Feed mills must establish documented procedures to investigate community complaints, negotiate fair remedies and record agreed settlement outcomes without administrative delays.
• Resource access protection: Operations must not restrict or impede traditional community access to public roads, clean drinking water sources, fishing grounds or agricultural land.

Respecting Indigenous Peoples' rights and consent

Under Criterion 1.13, feed manufacturers operating near indigenous territories must observe strict protocols to protect indigenous culture, livelihoods and ancestral lands:

• Free Prior and Informed Consent: Facilities must obtain free prior and informed consent from recognized indigenous governance bodies prior to constructing new processing facilities or expanding operational boundaries on indigenous lands.
• Customary land rights recognition: Management must respect customary and traditional land tenure rights, ensuring that plant activities do not displace indigenous communities or diminish traditional resource access.
• Cultural heritage protection: Feed mills must identify and protect sites of cultural, religious or historical significance to local indigenous groups during facility construction and routine operations.
• Cultural consultation mechanisms: Management must engage in culturally appropriate dialogue with indigenous elders and leaders, utilizing local languages and traditional decision-making structures.

Audit verification and risk management integration

During third-party certification audits, auditors verify whether community engagement procedures are fully integrated into the site Risk Management Framework under Appendix 7. Auditors inspect land title deeds, lease agreements and local planning permits to verify legal tenure rights under Criterion 1.1. In addition, auditors examine meeting minutes from public consultation sessions and cross-check community complaints against the site grievance register maintained under Criterion 1.3.

When community disputes or land access conflicts arise, feed mills must demonstrate that negotiations occur in good faith with legitimate community representatives. Management must avoid using security personnel or legal threats to suppress community grievances or force land access agreements. Resolving community concerns transparently and integrating community feedback into annual management reviews ensures ongoing compliance and supports sustainable operational growth.

What to do now

• Map local community stakeholders: Identify neighbouring residential areas, community leaders, local authorities and indigenous groups surrounding factory premises and worker dormitories.
• Establish public consultation logs: Schedule periodic consultation meetings with local residents to communicate operational changes, traffic management protocols and environmental safeguards.
• Review land title documentation: Inspect property deeds, land leases and municipal planning permits to confirm legal tenure rights and verify no unresolved land disputes exist.
• Update community grievance procedures: Integrate community complaint handling into the site grievance mechanism under Criterion 1.3, ensuring submission channels are accessible to local residents.

Reference documents

• ASC Feed Standard, V1.2, Criterion 1.12, Indicators 1.12.1, 1.12.2, Criterion 1.13, Indicators 1.13.1, 1.13.2, Criterion 1.1, Criterion 1.3, Appendix 7
• ASC Feed Standard Interpretation Manual, V1.2, Criterion 1.12, Criterion 1.13