Frequently asked questions

What if the fishery fails its assessment?

Then the fish that a company has accumulated will not be able to carry the MSC label. The company will have to sell it as non-MSC certified.

What if the Actual Eligibility Date is later than the Target Eligibility Date?

Fish that is held by a company that was caught before the Actual Eligibility Date cannot be sold with the MSC label.

At the next surveillance audit, the Chain of Custody certifier will expect that a company that has bought and handled under-MSC-assessment fish is able to show that it has not sold the fish as MSC certified. The risk of the Actual Eligibility Date falling later than the Target Eligibility Date is borne entirely by companies buying and handling under-MSC-assessment fish.

Why can some companies sell under-MSC-assessment fish and others cannot?

The main objective is to allow under-MSC-assessment fish that may become certified to move a short way into the supply chain to reach the first point of preservation. The policy limits the distance the product can travel into the chain. The rules are meant to allow companies to preserve the fish for presentation as MSC certified once the fishery is certified.

I am offered under-MSC-assessment fish, how can I check the supplier is certified?

By visiting the MSC website, you can check that your supplier has been assessed for under-MSC-assessment fish. You should ask your supplier to send you the list of under-MSC-assessment products that is reported on its under-MSC-assessment schedule.