New AIC Consultation - AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme
A follow up consultation of Members and the wider industry on AIC's Sustainable Commodities Scheme (ASCS) is launched.
The new Scheme has been developed to help members fulfil their due diligence requirements for the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).
The ASCS Module 1 - alignment with EUDR from Origin to the UK and Module 2 - for Operators within the UK standards and associated guidance are contained within the consultation pack (see below) and AIC invite you to review the documents and complete the associated 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) from origin to UK.
- A standard designed for Participants to demonstrate that they operate a deforestation free chain of custody for the in-scope commodities used within the UK feed industry.
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 follow up consultation on these draft standards and guidance documents will run until 17.00 on 6 June 2025..
The consultation pack consists of the following (click to view and download):
- AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme (ASCS) Overview
- Draft AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme – Module 1 alignment with EUDR from origin to UK
- Draft AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme Guidance– Module 1 Chain of Custody and Legality of Production
- Draft AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme – Module 2 for operators within the UK
- Draft AIC Sustainable Commodities Scheme Guidance– Module 2 Chain of Custody within the UK
- Module 1 Consultation Response Form which to insert comments and suggestions
- Module 2 Consultation Response Form 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.
