A step-by-step buyer’s checklist to verify ASC shrimp suppliers in Indonesia. Inside: certificate lookup, scope validation, exact invoice claim wording, segregation vs mass balance, and a receiving-audit pack you can use tomorrow.
If you buy ASC-labeled shrimp from Indonesia, you don’t want nasty surprises at your next audit. We’ve seen great procurement teams tripped up by a missing ASC eligibility tick box or a sloppy invoice claim. This guide is the playbook we use when we verify vannamei and black tiger shrimp supply for global buyers.
What counts as a “verified” ASC shrimp supplier in Indonesia?
In short, they must be allowed to sell ASC products and they must prove the claim on paperwork. That means two things must be true at the same time:
- They hold a valid MSC Chain of Custody certificate with ASC eligibility. ASC relies on the MSC CoC system. So the supplier’s MSC CoC must explicitly include ASC products in scope.
- Their documents carry the correct ASC claim and link every batch to an ASC-certified farm unit.
In our experience, a verification call takes 10–15 minutes if you know where to look. Here’s the exact sequence we use.
Step-by-step: Where to look up certificates and what to match
1) Confirm the seller’s MSC CoC and ASC eligibility
- Use the MSC public database (Find a Supplier). Search by company name or CoC code. Check the certificate is “valid,” not “suspended” or “expired.”
- Open the certificate scope. You should see ASC eligibility listed for activities relevant to shrimp. Look for activities such as processing, packing, storage, trading, or subcontracted processing, depending on what they actually do.
- Match legal entity and address. The name and address on the certificate must match what’s on their invoice and company stamp. If they’re selling under a different trading name, that alias must be listed in the certificate.
- Species scope. Verify the species you’ll buy are covered. For shrimp this typically includes vannamei (Litopenaeus vannamei) and/or black tiger (Penaeus monodon). If the certificate only lists finfish or “MSC only,” that’s a red flag.
2) Verify the farm side via ASC certificate lookup
- Use ASC’s public certificate finder to verify the farm unit of certification (UoC) for your batch. Confirm species, harvest region, and validity dates.
- Cross-check harvest or production dates against the farm certificate validity. The farm must have been certified at the time of harvest, not just at the time of sale.
- Ask the processor for the farm name or UoC reference on the delivery note or separate trace sheet if it’s not on the invoice.
3) If a broker is involved, check chain completeness
- Every entity taking legal ownership and making an ASC claim in B2B documents needs a valid CoC with ASC eligibility. If a broker invoices you with an ASC claim, the broker must be in-scope, not just the original processor.
Pro move: Save PDF copies and take screenshots of the public listings with timestamps. Auditors love contemporaneous evidence.
Exactly what an ASC claim should say on documents (with examples)
On B2B documents, a correct ASC claim does two jobs. It makes the ASC status unambiguous, and it names the certificate holder making the claim. We recommend the following structure on the invoice and delivery note:
- Product line description: “Shrimp, Vannamei, HLSO 21/25, Frozen, Indonesia, ASC.” Include the scientific name somewhere in the line or on the document header: “Litopenaeus vannamei.”
- ASC claim phrase: “ASC certified” or “From an ASC certified farm.”
- CoC code of the seller making the claim: “CoC code: MSC-C-XXXXX.”
- Optional but helpful: Farm UoC or farm name, production/harvest date, and processing date.
Example claim line you can copy:
“ASC certified vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Supplier CoC: MSC-C-XXXXX. Lot: VN-2501-IND. Farm UoC available on request.”
What about packing lists and delivery notes? The same claim should appear or be clearly referenced to the invoice number that contains the claim. If mixed-status goods ship together, each document must identify which lines are ASC and which are not.
Common fail we see: invoices say “ASC” but don’t include the CoC code of the seller. That’s an avoidable non-conformance.
Do you need your own CoC to buy and relabel ASC shrimp?
Here’s the simple rule we share with buyers:
- If you pass along the ASC claim in B2B documents, repack, relabel, or sell consumer-facing with the ASC logo or wording, you need your own MSC CoC with ASC eligibility.
- If you buy ASC product but make no claim at all and it remains sealed and unchanged, you don’t need CoC. But you can’t sell it as ASC.
- Logo use requires an ASC logo license in addition to CoC. The license lets you use the logo. The CoC lets you claim product status in the supply chain. You generally need both for consumer packaging.
When in doubt, assume you need CoC if your name will appear on pack or documents next to an ASC claim.
How to check if a supplier’s MSC CoC actually covers ASC
Not all MSC CoC certificates include ASC. On the public certificate page, look for an explicit reference to ASC eligibility or ASC products included in the scope. If it only lists MSC program eligibility or omits ASC entirely, the supplier can’t make ASC claims. Ask their certification body to confirm in writing if you’re unsure.
Red flags we’ve spotted more than once:
- A PDF that mentions “MSC” but has no ASC reference.
- The certificate covers only “retail handling” or “distribution,” but the supplier is doing processing not listed in scope.
- The corporate group is certified, but the individual Indonesian site you buy from is not listed.
Segregation vs mass balance for ASC shrimp in Indonesia
Buyers often ask if an order can combine ASC and non-ASC shrimp in the same carton or pallet.
- Same carton or inner pack: No. You can’t mix statuses within a consumer unit or shipping carton.
- Same pallet: Yes, but only with clear physical segregation and labeling so the ASC cartons are visibly distinct and traceable. Keep a pallet map and photo at receiving.
Mass balance is allowed under ASC through the MSC CoC system for eligible scopes. You can receive ASC-claimed product from a mass balance system. The claim on the invoice is still “ASC certified.” What matters is that the seller’s scope includes mass balance for the relevant activities and they can reconcile volumes. Ask your supplier to state “Segregation” or “Mass balance” in the spec or confirmation, so you know what you’re buying and how to store it.
Your receiving audit checklist for ASC shrimp shipments
We use this “10-minute audit” at our own docks and recommend importers do the same:
- Supplier invoice showing the ASC claim and the seller’s CoC code.
- Delivery note or packing list that clearly identifies ASC lines and quantities.
- Bill of lading or airway bill that ties to the same lot numbers.
- Product labels on cartons: product name, species/scientific name, production date/lot, and ASC claim if printed. Take photos.
- Farm trace link: farm name or UoC reference available on request, plus harvest or production date.
- Supplier’s valid MSC CoC certificate with ASC eligibility. Save a current copy or take a screenshot of the public listing.
- If a broker is in the middle, their CoC details must also be included on the documents carrying the claim.
- Storage plan: confirm how ASC stock will be segregated in your cold store from non-ASC.
- If mass balance, file the supplier’s written confirmation that MB is in their scope. Keep year-end or shipment-level reconciliations they share with you.
Retain records according to your quality system and customer requirements. We usually advise keeping them for the shelf life of the product plus the typical audit cycle period.
7 mistakes that trigger non-conformances (and how to avoid them)
- The wrong CoC code is printed on the invoice. Solution: Cross-check the code against the public database before payment.
- ASC not listed in scope. Solution: Ask for a current certificate and verify ASC eligibility on the public page.
- Species mismatch. Solution: Confirm Litopenaeus vannamei or Penaeus monodon are listed for the site or activity.
- Subcontractors not in scope. Solution: If a third party peels, glazes, or repacks, ensure that site is either listed under the group certificate or covered by contract processing in scope.
- No clear claim wording. Solution: Require “ASC certified” plus the seller’s CoC code on invoices and delivery documents.
- Mixed-status pallets with no map. Solution: Photograph pallets at receiving and attach a pallet map to the receiving record.
- Using the ASC logo without a logo license. Solution: Get a logo license and approvals, even if you already hold CoC.
Quick note on Indonesian context and timing
Shifts in certification scopes and site names happen more often than buyers expect. Processors merge entities. Brokers add or drop sites. We recommend a light-touch pre-shipment check every time you switch plants, brands, or packing formats. It takes five minutes and can save a corrective action request later.
If you’d like a second set of eyes on a supplier’s scope or an invoice claim before you book the container, feel free to Contact us on whatsapp. We can usually turn around a verification checklist the same day.
Working with a verified Indonesian processor
When you’re ready to trial product, start with a lot you can fully trace end to end and run your receiving audit on it. We can align to your documentation preferences and supply ASC-eligible vannamei and monodon formats from Indonesia. See our product capabilities here: Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught).
Questions about mass balance vs segregation for your exact product mix or label plan? Contact us on email and we’ll share the wording we’ve seen pass audits for importers in North America, the EU, and the Middle East.
Practical takeaway: verify the seller’s MSC CoC with ASC eligibility, lock the invoice claim wording, link to an ASC-certified farm, and build a simple receiving pack. Do that, and you’ll eliminate 90% of ASC claim risks before the container even sails.