A new review will ensure the MSC Chain of Custody Standard is up to date and reflects changes in industry best practice.
The review provides an opportunity to build on and improve the MSC Chain of Custody Standard, which is used to assure businesses and consumers that seafood sold with the MSC ecolabel has come from an MSC certified sustainable source.
The Chain of Custody Standard was last reviewed in 2019, and since then there have been significant changes in global supply chains that need to be reflected in the Standard requirements. This includes the evolution of best practice and legislation in product and supply chain integrity, and rapid advances in digital technology. The review will also consider learnings from the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused significant disruption to supply chains worldwide.
The MSC also aims to make the certification process more efficient and ensure the Standard is more accessible to supply chain companies.
“It is essential that we continue to evolve our requirements to remain relevant, effective and aligned with shifting business and consumer expectations.” said Sue Lockhart, Supply Chain Standard Director at the MSC. “This review will ensure our program continues to minimise the risk of seafood fraud and mislabelling, supporting responsible producers who go to great lengths to meet international standards for sustainability.”
MSC Chain of Custody in numbers
- Over 20,000 products sold with MSC ecolabel
- MSC labelled products available in 66 countries
- Over 47,800 supply chain sites certified to handle MSC certified seafood
The MSC Chain of Custody Standard is also used to certify the supply chain for responsibly farmed seafood certified to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Standard. Through the review, the MSC will improve alignment between its Standard and the new ASC Chain of Custody module, which provides additional requirements for supply chain companies handling products from ASC certified farms.
The review, which is expected to conclude in 2025, will include opportunities for stakeholders to comment on and test proposed changes to the requirements. Towards the end of the review, there will be a 60-day public consultation on the proposed draft Chain of Custody Standard.
