After certification
There are some things you should know about your MSC Chain of Custody certification and some tips to making the most of your MSC ecolabel.
How long is our Chain of Custody certificate valid for?
Restaurants certified through conventional assessments
Your certificate is valid for 3 years.
Restaurants certified through online assessments
Because online assessment is a pilot method of certification, your certificate is valid for 1 year initially. Your
certifier will extend your certificate for a further 2 years at your surveillance audit in
Year 2.
Post-certification requirements - Annual surveillance audits
Restaurants certified through conventional assessments
Your certifier will visit you again at regular
times to check that your systems are still working well. These are the
surveillance audits. After 3 years. your restaurant will be reassessed if you
wish to remain in the Chain of Custody program.
Restaurants certified through online assessments
Your restaurant certifier will undergo an annual check-up or
‘surveillance’ audit to ensure that each restaurant continues to meet
the MSC Chain of Custody standard. This will happen online. After 3 years, you will be reassessed if you
wish to remain in the Chain of Custody program.
Post-certification requirements - Spot checks
To ensure that the traceability standard remains strong, all certified restaurants may be subject to unannounced audits at any time. Restaurants must pass these to keep their certificate. The cost of these spot checks is included in the cost of the annual check-up audits. For restaurants certified online, 1 in 10 will receive a spot check from the auditor.
Making the most of your certification
All businesses with a Chain of Custody certificate are listed on the MSC Supplier Directory to promote your company’s certification. If you get a Licence to use the MSC ecolabel (LINK) you'll be promoted further on the MSC web site.
Take the next step - Use the MSC ecolabel
Consumers throughout the world want MSC-labelled seafood products. To make the most of your certification and to communicate your commitment to seafood sustainability apply for an Ecolabel License (LINK) to use the ecolabel in your restaurant.
