MSC Chain of Custody certification guide

The MSC Chain of Custody Assessment Process

If your company takes ownership of MSC certified seafood products and wants to sell them as certified, you will most likely need Chain of Custody (CoC) certification.

Here’s what to expect from the assessment process.

Who assesses my business?

Assessments are conducted by accredited independent certifiers - Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).

Full list of CABs for MSC assessments.

What will be assessed?

Certifiers will audit your business to ensure:

You are purchasing MSC certified product from a certified supplier
Certified products are clearly identifiable
Certified products are separated from non-certified
Certified products are traceable and volumes are recorded
You have a good management system in place

How long does it take? How much does it cost?

The time and cost of your assessment will vary depending on the complexity and size of your organization as well as your certifier's rates and travel expenses.

We recommend that you get quotes from more than one accredited certifier.

Preparing well for your audit can also help to reduce time and costs. After you know which type of CoC your business will need, our certification guides below will help you prepare well for your certification.

Subscribe to our newsletter

What version of Chain of Custody will my business need?

The MSC Chain of Custody Standard includes different requirements to meet the needs of different types of business. There are three versions of the Standard and we provide guides for each. If you're unsure, your certifier or a member of MSC staff can help you decide which version is best for your business.

Default Chain of Custody

Default CoC is for companies operating in one or a few locations. Examples of businesses that are eligible for Default certification:

A fishmonger serving final consumers and caterers with the majority of sales by volume and value going to the catering trade
A seafood company with a trading office, processing facility and storage unit

Download the CoC Default Certification Guide

Group Chain of Custody

Group CoC is for businesses with a central office function and many locations distributing, processing, or trading MSC certified seafood. Examples of businesses that are eligible for Group certification:

A co-operative with distribution centers in multiple locations
A trans-national seafood processing company with multiple sites
A company whose central office sets requirements for operations at multiple sites or franchises
A group of independent companies at the end of supply chain, e.g. restaurants or fish mongers, with a group certification manager

Download the CoC Group Certification Guide

Consumer-Facing Organization Chain of Custody

Consumer-Facing Organization Chain of Custody is for most businesses selling direct to consumers. Examples of businesses that are eligible for Consumer-Facing Organization certification:

Retailers
Restaurants
Caterers
Fresh fish counters

Businesses with more than one site can be certified to this version of the Standard if all of the following apply:

All sites are under the control of the same management system, maintained by your company’s head office
Your head office has an ownership or franchise relationship with each site, or a temporary right to manage all sites and staff
Your head office controls seafood purchases, ensuring all sites can only order seafood from certified suppliers

Download the CoC Consumer-Facing Certification Guide

What happens after certification?

Your certification lasts for three years. During this time you will have regular surveillance audits.

Surveillance audits

Audits are usually once a year, but the frequency depends on the version of the Standard your company is certified to. The process is similar to your initial assessment. An auditor will check you're maintaining the correct procedures to identify, segregate, control, manage and trace MSC certified seafood.

Some certifiers offer combined audits with other programs, so you may be able to schedule an MSC audit with another.

There is a small chance that your company will receive an unannounced audit. Each certifier must conduct unannounced audits for at least 1% of their clients.

Recertification

When a company’s MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification reaches its three-year mark, it undergoes a full recertification audit to confirm continued compliance with MSC standards. This process ensures that certified organizations maintain traceability and integrity within the sustainable seafood supply chain. Upon successful recertification, companies can continue promoting certified products and using the MSC ecolabel with a valid Ecolabel License.

Using the MSC ecolabel

To use the MSC blue fish label you will also require an Ecolabel License Agreement.

Upon certification, your business will receive a certificate and a Chain of Custody code. With this code you can apply to use the MSC label.