How can I get Chain of Custody certification?

MSC Chain of Custody certificates are issued by independent certifiers, not by the MSC.

The certifier will arrange to visit your business to carry out an audit. During this audit, they will check that

• your business has systems in place to ensure MSC fish is kept separate from other fish
• you keep adequate records to show that your business uses these systems for every batch of MSC fish you receive, even when the certifier is not present.

If your business meets the requirements of the MSC Chain of Custody standard, the certifier will issue you with a certificate following the audit. Once you have your MSC Chain of Custody certificate, you can apply to use the MSC ecolabel.

Remember to plan your certification carefully – by getting everything ready before the audit, you can help to ensure a smooth and timely assessment.

If you manage a Group, the MSC has developed specific Guidance on MSC Group Certification Requirements.

4 steps to Chain of Custody certification

1. Communicate internally
Tell your staff and colleagues what the MSC is and why you are getting involved as you will need their help. Nominate someone to have overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining Chain of Custody in your business.

2. Plan, adjust, check
Develop a clear plan early on of what needs to be done, by whom and by when. This will help to make the process simple and straightforward. You may need to make some, usually small, adjustments to some of your systems. Check your new systems are working before arranging an audit by an independent certifier. 

3. Audit
Select a certifier and arrange a time for them to carry out an audit. They will check for compliance with the MSC Chain of Custody standard and issue your certification. To get the best value for money, contact a number of certifiers to compare and seek reasons for quotes. If your audit is successful and you don’t have to change anything, you will receive a certificate shortly afterwards.

4. Maintain
An MSC Chain of Custody certification is granted for three years, and requires regular audits, on average once a year.

More information

For detailed information about getting Chain of Custody certification see the myMSC Chain of Custody handbook.

Or, to read how and why UK chain Pret A Manger got MSC Chain of Custody certification download the Pret a Manger case study (PDF 176kb).