The MSC certification requirements for both fisheries and chain of custody are defined in a series of documents. These documents outline specific requirements, guidelines and methods to enable consistency and compliance in assessments.
Controlled List of MSC Certification Program Documents
| Description: | Controlled document list of MSC certification program documents for reference by Conformity Assessment Bodies and Assurance Services International. |
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| Language: | English |
| Version: | 35.00 |
| Date of issue: | 17 March 2023 |
| Date effective: | 17 March 2023 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
Controlled List of MSC Derogations
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Version: | 4.00 |
| Date of issue: | 26 October 2022 |
| Date effective: | 26 October 2022 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
Chain of Custody certification documents
MSC Chain of Custody Standard - Default Version v5.0
| Description: | The Default Standard is for certification of supply chain organisations with single or multi-site operations, trading MSC and/or ASC certified seafood. |
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| Language: | English |
| Version: | 5.00 |
| Date of issue: | 28 March 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Chain of Custody Standard - Group Version v2.0
| Description: | The Group Standard is for certification of supply chain organisations with a central office function and many locations trading MSC and/or ASC certified seafood. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Version: | 2.00 |
| Date of issue: | 28 March 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Chain of Custody Standard Consumer-Facing Organisation Version v2.0
| Description: | The CFO Standard is for certification of supply chain organisations of any size selling MSC and/or ASC certified products directly to the final consumer. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Version: | 2.00 |
| Date of issue: | 28 March 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Chain of Custody Certification Requirements v3.1
| Description: | This document sets out requirements on how the Chain of Custody Standard should be interpreted during audits, and ensure consistency of its application. |
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| Language: | English |
| Version: | 3.10 |
| Date of issue: | 23 August 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Chain of Custody Program – Supplementary Requirements for the ASC-MSC Seaweed (Algae) Program 1.2
| Description: | Supplementary requirements specific to Chain of Custody audits against the ASC-MSC Seaweed (Algae) program |
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| Language: | English |
| Version: | 1.20 |
| Date of issue: | 26 October 2022 |
| Date effective: | 01 December 2022 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
Supplementary Requirements for the ASC-MSC Seaweed (Algae) Program v1.1.1
| Description: | Supplementary requirements specific to Chain of Custody audits against the ASC-MSC Seaweed (Algae) program. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Date of issue: | 23 August 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Labour Eligibility Requirements v1.0
| Description: | Sets out labour requirements that fisheries and Chain of Custody certificate holders must meet to be eligible for MSC assessment. |
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| Language: | English |
| Version: | 1.00 |
| Date of issue: | 26 October 2022 |
| Date effective: | 01 May 2023 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Third-Party Labour Audit Requirements
| Description: | Sets out requirements for supply chain organisations completing an on-site third-party labour audit, and guidance for auditors on verifying these requirements. |
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| Language: | English |
| Version: | 1.00 |
| Date of issue: | 28 March 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC-MSCI Vocabulary v1.4
| Description: | This vocabulary defines concepts, terms, phrases and abbreviations used by the MSC and MSCI. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Version: | 1.40 |
| Date of issue: | 26 October 2022 |
| Date effective: | 26 October 2022 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Chain of Custody Program Summary of Changes 2019
| Description: | An outline of what has changed in the 2019 Chain of Custody program release, including the Default V5.0, Group V2.0, Consumer-Facing Organisation V2.0, the CoC CR V3.1 and the GCR V2.4 |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Date of issue: | 28 March 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 March 2019 |
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PDF - 3 MB
PDF - 3 MB
MSC Change tracking report for Chain of Custody Program
| Description: | Clause-by-clause list of changes to the Chain of Custody Standards (Default, Group and Consumer-Facing Organisation) and the Chain of Custody Certification Requirements released 28 March 2019 |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Date of issue: | 23 August 2019 |
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XLSX - 1 MB
XLSX - 1 MB
General Certification Requirements
MSC General Certification Requirements v2.5
| Description: | The General Certification Requirements sets out requirements for Conformity Assessment Bodies assessing or auditing Fisheries and Chain of Custody businesses. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Version: | 2.50 |
| Date of issue: | 26 October 2022 |
| Date effective: | 01 May 2023 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC General Certification Requirements v2.4.1
| Description: | The General Certification Requirements sets out requirements for Conformity Assessment Bodies assessing or auditing Fisheries and Chain of Custody businesses. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Date of issue: | 07 May 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC General Certification Requirements v2.3
| Description: | The General Certification Requirements sets out requirements for Conformity Assessment Bodies assessing or auditing Fisheries and Chain of Custody businesses. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Version: | 2.30 |
| Date of issue: | 31 August 2018 |
| Date effective: | 28 February 2019 |
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PDF - 1 MB
PDF - 1 MB
MSC Change tracking report - GCR v2.4.1 from GCR v2.3
| Description: | Clause-by-clause list of changes in the General Certification Requirements v2.4.1 from General Certification Requirements v2.3 |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Date of issue: | 07 May 2019 |
| Date effective: | 28 September 2019 |
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XLSX - 1 MB
XLSX - 1 MB
More for CABs
Supporting documents
Forms, templates and other supporting materials for certifiers and clients.
Translated program documents
Translated resources for Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) accredited to carry out MSC Fisheries and Chain of Custody Standard assessments.
Fisheries program documents
The MSC Fisheries Standard and the General Certification Requirements. For certifiers and clients.