Classification
Product TypeIndustrial Product
Product FormCompound aquafeed (extruded/pelleted)
Industry PositionManufactured feed input for aquaculture production
Market
Aquafeed demand in Great Britain is tightly linked to Scotland’s finfish aquaculture, especially Atlantic salmon and trout; the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2024 reports 192,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon production in 2024. Domestic manufacturing capacity is concentrated in Scotland, with major salmonid feed production sites including BioMar (Grangemouth), Cargill/EWOS (Westfield near Bathgate) and Mowi Feed (Kyleakin, Isle of Skye). Import rules and official controls are material to market access because aquafeed and its inputs can fall under products of animal origin (e.g., fishmeal) and other feed import control categories requiring pre-notification and documentary compliance. Sustainability and traceability expectations are rising in salmon supply chains, including alignment with ASC Feed Standard requirements for farms and certified feed mills.
Market RoleDomestic aquafeed manufacturing and aquaculture consumption market (salmonid-led), with global sourcing exposure for key ingredients
Domestic RoleCore production input for Scottish salmon and UK trout aquaculture operations
Market GrowthMixed (near-to-medium term)Demand tracks salmonid production volumes and regulatory/market sustainability requirements
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighConsignments of aquafeed or key feed inputs that fall under SPS import controls (including products of animal origin such as fishmeal) can be delayed, rejected, re-dispatched or destroyed if IPAFFS pre-notification, health certification (where required), or BCP presentation/document consistency requirements are not met.Classify each ingredient/consignment correctly (POAO/ABP/HRFNAO/non-POAO as applicable), complete IPAFFS notifications within required lead times, and run a pre-shipment document reconciliation (health certificate, CHED, invoice/transport docs) against the receiving BCP checklist.
Market Access MediumFrom 31 October 2025, ASC-certified farms are required to use ASC-conforming feed produced under the ASC Feed Standard; suppliers without ASC Feed certification (or without an ASC-conforming supply route) may lose access to ASC-linked demand segments in GB salmon value chains.Assess customer certification status (ASC or equivalent) and, where required, supply from ASC-certified feed mills and maintain ASC-compliant ingredient due diligence and claims documentation.
Logistics MediumAquafeed is freight-intensive and relies on reliable inbound shipments of globally sourced raw materials and outbound distribution to remote coastal aquaculture sites; port congestion, SPS/BCP delays or freight-rate spikes can disrupt continuity of supply and farm feeding plans.Build multi-port routing options, maintain safety stocks at strategically located warehouses, and align production plans with farm biomass forecasts to reduce emergency shipments.
Sustainability MediumReputational and buyer-compliance risk can arise if marine and plant ingredient sourcing cannot demonstrate low-risk pathways for IUU fishing, labor rights issues, and deforestation/land conversion, particularly for certified salmon supply chains.Use recognised assurance pathways (e.g., MarinTrust/MSC for marine ingredients, ASC Feed due diligence requirements for >1% ingredients, and documented deforestation/land conversion risk management for plant inputs).
Sustainability- Deforestation and land conversion risk screening for plant ingredients (notably soy) used in aquafeed supply chains serving GB salmonid production
- IUU fishing and marine ecosystem impacts risk screening for marine ingredients (fishmeal/fish oil) used in GB aquafeed formulations
- Increasing third-party assurance expectations (e.g., ASC Feed Standard; MarinTrust/MSC stepping-stones for marine ingredients) for market access in certified salmon value chains
Labor & Social- Forced and child labour risk exists in some upstream fisheries and agricultural supply chains globally; due diligence expectations are increasingly applied through feed and farm certification programmes relevant to GB salmonid supply chains
- Supplier code-of-conduct and social compliance auditing may be required to support ASC-aligned procurement
Standards- ASC Feed Standard (feed mill certification relevant to ASC-certified farms)
- MarinTrust (marine ingredients certification and chain of custody for fishmeal/fish oil)
- IFFO RS (marine ingredients responsible supply standard referenced by the marine ingredients industry)
FAQ
Where is aquafeed manufactured in Great Britain for salmon and trout supply chains?Major salmonid aquafeed manufacturing is concentrated in Scotland, with documented production sites including BioMar’s Grangemouth facility, Cargill/EWOS’s Westfield site near Bathgate, and Mowi Feed’s Kyleakin mill on the Isle of Skye.
What is a common import compliance step for consignments subject to SPS controls entering Great Britain?Where SPS import controls apply, importers typically need to pre-notify the designated Border Control Post using IPAFFS in advance of arrival and provide the required documentation, including a health certificate when it is required for the commodity and origin.
How can aquafeed suppliers align with ASC-linked market access expectations in Great Britain?ASC requires that, from 31 October 2025, ASC-certified farms use ASC-conforming feed produced under the ASC Feed Standard, so suppliers serving ASC-linked demand typically need an ASC-certified feed mill supply route and ingredient due diligence/traceability consistent with the ASC Feed Standard.