Current and planned policy developments
The MSC is continually improving our program. We provide regular opportunities for our stakeholders to contribute to the development of program changes. Current policies in development are listed below with information on the next opportunity for consultation and how to get involved.
PLEASE NOTE: THE BELOW INFORMATION WILL SOON BE UPDATED AND AVAILABLE THROUGH A SPECIAL 'PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS' WEBSITE, WHICH WILL REPLACE THIS WEBPAGE AS THE PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT AND PLANNED POLICY DEVELOPMENTS. IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU REQUIRE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT standards@msc.org
Fisheries policy in development:
Chain of Custody policy in development:
Overarching policy in development:
Fisheries policy in development
Special guidance for assessing salmon fisheries
The release of the Fisheries Assessment Methodology (FAM) and default assessment tree recognized that further guidance would be required for some special types of fishery including enhanced fisheries. MSC’s intent to develop special guidance for such fishery types was also outlined in the Enhanced Fisheries TAB Directive.
The MSC Technical Advisory Board (TAB) recently considered proposals developed by a contracted expert team for revisions to the FAM, including new Performance Indicators as well as guidance, for the assessment of salmon fisheries. Proposals allow for both the assessment of enhancement impacts, including the stocking of hatchery-reared fish and habitat modifications, and the assessment of stock status given the multi-stock characteristics of these species. A draft of new requirements was presented to the TAB and Board in November 2010 when it was decided that further work is needed before seeking public comment.
Current development stage: Development of new Performance Indicators and guidance
Special guidance for assessing enhanced bivalve fisheries
In 2008 the MSC developed scoping criteria to help identify which fisheries could be considered for enhanced fishery assessments. For some types of enhanced fisheries specific and additional guidance is required to enable the proper assessment of their particular characteristics against the MSC standard.
Enhanced bivalve fisheries have special characteristics that need consideration such as the genetic impacts of translocation and seed/larvae harvest on wild populations, as well as the cumulative habitat and ecosystem impacts of multiple production operations, areas, facilities, and systems, within a geographic region.
Specific guidance and requirements for enhanced bivalve mollusc fisheries are being developed on the recommendations coming out of a July, 2011 workshop with enhanced bivalve experts and certifiers, and will be presented to the MSC Technical Advisory Board in December 2011.
Current development stage: Completed (see recent policy changes)
Risk-based Framework for low trophic level (LTL) species
The MSC Technical Advisory Board recently clarified MSC’s expectations on the additional precaution that should be applied by fisheries in managing low trophic level (LTL) species, as scored in the Reference Points PI 1.1.2.
The main focus of this new direction is on the stock biomass levels that should be maintained in the management of LTL species in order to allow for their critical roles in the wider ecosystem. As part of this the MSC Risk-Based Framework was prohibited from use in Principle 1 for fisheries on key LTL species.
A modified Risk-Based Framework for LTL species, taking into consideration ecosystem importance, is being developed, will be released for public consultation and presented to the MSC Technical Advisory Board in December 2011.
Current development stage: Development of Risk-Based Framework for LTL fisheries.
Next consultation opportunity: October 2011.
Update: Timelines of the project has been revised. More information about this policy development will be published in the coming days.
MSC assessment of fisheries managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs)
As more highly-migratory species come under MSC assessment, there is a need to review the applicability of the default fishery assessment indicators to capture the international and multi-jurisdictional management of these resources.
A review has been conducted to:
- analyze the consistency of the Principle 1 and Principle 3 scoring within individual assessments; the approaches taken to condition setting, their consistency across assessments (and RFMOs) and their relevance and likely impact when action to fulfill a condition would reasonably fall to RFMOs
- understand the consistency of scoring of Principle 1 and Principle 3 Performace Indicators across the assessments when considering the information available;
- understand the applicability of the default fishery assessment indicators to capture the international and multi-jurisdictional management of these resources.
Results of the review will be used to provide recommendations for policy development and presented to the MSC Technical Advisory Board in December 2011.
Current development stage: Partially completed (see recent policy changes)
Recertification of fisheries with outstanding conditions
Proposed new guidance to certifiers for determining if adequate progress against conditions has been made to allow fisheries to enter reassessment and associated additional reporting requirements pertaining to progress against conditions.
Current development stage: Completed (see recent policy changes)
Chain of Custody policy in development
Online assessment for restaurants
A pilot scheme is currently underway in the UK and Netherlands in which eligible restaurants are undergoing an online assessment. The aim of this form of audit is to provide an affordable and practical assessment that accurately assesses performance, whilst improving the accessibility of the Chain of Custody certification program.
Visit the online assessment website
Current development stage: Trial open in UK and the Netherlands
DNA testing of products
A DNA testing program to further check that MSC certified products originate from certified fisheries is under development. A pilot study testing 240 products from 3 certified species has successfully demonstrated the capacity of DNA testing as a tool to support traceability within the supply chain.
This project will be expanded and is due to cover a further 4 species this year: hoki, Cape hake, Pacific cod and herring at a later stage. DNA testing will provide an additional tool with which the MSC can reinforce the integrity of the supply chain, ensuring against fraudulent use of the MSC ecolabel and incorrectly described products, supporting the traceability and transparency of the Chain of Custody program.
Current development stage: Developing specific DNA tests for species selected
Overarching policy in development
Certifier training - auditor competencies
A proposed comprehensive set of competency requirements for certifer audit personnel to accompany existing qualification requirements has been developed and will be presented to the MSC Technical Advisory Board in December 2011.
Current development stage: Development of proposed competencies, preparation for consultation
Next consultation opportunity: October 2011
Update: Timelines of the project has been revised. For more information about this policy process click here.
Implementation timeframes for changes to MSC scheme documents
MSC is developing a change-implementation procedure to establish guidelines for implementing agreed scheme changes, dependent on the type and degree of the change, and to make these guidelines widely known throughout the MSC stakeholder community. This will enable better planning by affected or potentially affected parties, as well as clarity among the broader stakeholder community on what to expect from MSC policy development in relation to their interests and issues.
Current development stage: Completed (see recent policy changes)
