Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has unveiled that Thai Union was granted with ASC’s Feed Standard Certification for the company’s Mahachai Plant in Thailand, which produces feed for various seafood animals.
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has explained that Thai Union, a Thailand based company that specializes in seafood, has joined the group of ASC certified feed companies. The single-site certification for the company’s Mahachai Plant, located in Thailand’s Samut Sakhon province just west of Bangkok, is the first ASC Feed Standard certification in Asia. The feed mill produces feed for seabass, seabream and meagre, tilapia and shrimp.
ASC stated that 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,” said Chris Ninnes, ASC CEO. “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, added, “Securing the first ASC Feed certificate in Asia underscores our deep commitment to sustainability at the heart of our 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.”
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 notes that 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.
This is another example of partnership between ASC and Thai Union. 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.
