Reviewing MSC certification requirements
The MSC certification requirements and supporting material are updated and reviewed regularly. This ensures that MSC certification remains relevant, globally accessible and applicable, while maintaining the rigour and transparency of the program and ensuring that the bar against which fisheries are assessed remains consistent. As defined by best practice, stakeholder consultation is integral to the review process.
How MSC certification requirements are reviewed
The MSC certification requirements are reviewed periodically by the MSC Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to ensure they remain comprehensive and consistent with best practice.
In the interim, new scheme requirements are developed by the TAB in a biannual policy setting process. These supporting materials are generated in response to feedback from the Stakeholder Council, clients, certifiers and the Accreditation Body. New scheme requirements clarify the requirements and provide directions for their application in new situations.
Stakeholder consultation is central to the review process with stakeholder feedback often initiating development or changes to the requirements, followed by extensive stakeholder consultation on the resulting new scheme requirements.
Related information
Find out about
- recent policy developments and reviews of the MSC certification requirements
- areas of the MSC certification requirements that are currently under review
- policy areas that have recently or are undergoing stakeholder consultation
Comment on the MSC standards and requirements
You can comment on the MSC standards and requirements at any time.
Contact us
For further information please email standards@msc.org.

