As seafood supply chains evolve, so do market expectations for product traceability. Evolving regulatory requirements, particularly in the European Union and USA, are increasing the need for businesses to exchange traceability information in a consistent, digital format. This is needed to avoid risks of non-compliance, fraud and reputational exposure.
In response to these changes and as part of our vision for 2030, we have launched the Traceability Enhancement Program (TEP). The program will help MSC Chain of Custody certificate holders prepare for this changing landscape.
What are the aims of the project?
We are exploring how standardised digital traceability data can strengthen assurance in certified seafood supply chains and reduce the administrative burden on businesses through digital verification.
In brief, the program aims to:
- Evolve the Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard
- Introduce a tool for automated verification of certificate holders' traceability data
- Enhance the level of assurance the MSC label provides
- Reduce the time and cost of compliance with MSC program requirements
- Facilitate compliance with other schemes and regulations
How does it work?
For this project we are breaking complex supply chains down into a series of common events known as Critical Tracking Events (CTEs):
- Fishing Event
- Transshipment Event
- Landing Event
- Processing Event
- Aggregation / Disaggregation Event
- Shipping / Receiving Event
Traceability is achieved by recording Key Data Elements (KDEs) at each stage. The KDEs recorded will vary depending on the CTEs undertaken by each supply chain entity and may include, but are not limited to:
- Species
- Weight/volume
- Product form
- Location
For the process to work on a large scale, with multiple entities, different systems must be able to work together - be interoperable.
A tool for digital traceability verification
To achieve the above aims we have developed a tool to verify the data recorded along the supply chain, working with Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) to inform their approach to audits.
This tool:
- Verifies the Key Data Elements for a sample of products at each Critical Tracking Event
- Does not prescribe partners use specific digital traceability tools or software
- Is based on the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) interoperability standard
- Deletes and does not store proprietary data
Pilot testing - get involved
We're currently working with approximately 30 MSC Chain of Custody certificate holders to pilot the Traceability Enhancement Program.
These pilots are helping us to:
- Evaluate digital traceability and data capture in real-world seafood supply chains.
- Assess risk-based approaches to auditing, based on more frequent digital verification.
- Test tools that make the system accessible and practical for certificate holders.
Join the pilot
We are looking for more certificate holders as we continue the pilot through 2026 and 2027. The project has several workstreams and we welcome:
Certified businesses that are using digital traceability systems and may already meet GDST requirements.
Certified businesses that are interested in or committed to implementing an interoperable traceability system.
We'd like to thank the certificate holders and solution providers already participating in the pilots. Their collaboration, expertise and willingness to test new approaches are helping shape the future of digital seafood traceability and strengthening confidence in certified sustainable seafood.
