Consultation: AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme (ASCS) Module 1 – alignment with EUDR
A consultation of Members and the wider industry on AIC's Sustainable Commodities Scheme (ASCS) has begun, ahead of the new Scheme's planned launch in early 2025.
The new Scheme has been developed to help Members fulfil their due diligence requirements for EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).
It aims to provide feed and food supply chains with confidence that soya and palm commodities have not originated from deforested land.
AIC is pleased to announce the launch of a consultation for the first module within the ASCS, Module 1 – alignment with EUDR and invite you to review the documents contained within this consultation pack (see below) and complete the response form.
Please find links to view and download the consultation pack below. This information can also be found on the Feed Sector pages of the AIC website shortly.
About ASCS
AIC's Sustainable Commodities Scheme (ASCS) is a new voluntary scheme developed, owned and implemented by the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC).
The ASCS has been designed with industry input in response to market demands throughout the supply chain.
Once certified, the Participant will be able to verify or make claims about their supply chains to their customers and stakeholders and align with legal requirements in this area.
Certification to the ASCS should help the Participant meet the requirements of sustainability criteria set in this area in a cost-effective and pragmatic manner.
The Scheme will offer a series of modules against which Participants will be independently certified to confirm that the sourcing of raw materials and products meets key sustainability goals.
The first modules to be released by the ASCS certify that where raw materials and products are sourced from geographies where forests are at risk, this activity does not result in deforestation, the conversion to agricultural use of land with ecological value, or both.
AIC is currently developing two modules within the Scheme to address these concerns:
- A standard designed for participants to demonstrate alignment with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).
- A standard designed for participants to demonstrate alignment with the UK Forest Risk Commodities Regulation (UKFRC).
A list of certified Participants, the products within their scope and the modules against which they have been certified will be made publicly available via the AIC website.
Consultation pack and response deadline
The consultation on this draft standard will run until 17.00 on 20 January 2025.
The consultation pack consists of the following (click to view and download):
- Draft AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme – Module 1 alignment with EUDR
- Draft AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme – Chain of Custody and Legality of Production Guidance
- ASCS Background and Objectives leaflet
- A consultation response form in which to insert comments and suggestions
All responses should be sent by email to Sue Whittington ([email protected]) by the closing date.
Authors
James McCulloch
Sue Whittington
Sue is a Technical Manager for AIC Services. She is responsible for the Feed Adviser Register (FAR), the AIC Sustainability Programme and responsible sourcing and the Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) Laboratory Proficiency Testing Programme.
