Seafood is the world’s most important renewable food source. Healthy oceans are essential for thriving marine ecosystems, livelihoods and economies around the world. Our oceans are under more pressure than ever from human and environmental impacts. With growing consumer concern over product origin, environmental impact and nutritional value, increased focus is placed on sustainability in the fishery sector.

What is the MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard?

The standard applies to any market player (individual organizations or groups) with ownership of the product or where the seafood product is transformed or repacked, including wholesalers, processors, retailers, caterers and traders.

The ASC chain of Custody Module

In addition to the MSC CoC Standard, ASC Chain of Custody certificate holders also need to meet requirements of the additional ASC CoC Module . These requirements increase integrity of seafood supply chains by addressing key details including food safety and antibiotic detection, bringing increased assurance value to the ASC label.

The MSC CoC or ASC CoC certification guarantee that any product bearing the MSC eco-label or ASC eco-label is sourced from a certified sustainable fishery or farm. Each member of the supply chain that claims ownership of the product or transforms the product must be certified up to the point of the product entering its final, consumer-ready packaging.

Benefits of becoming certified

The MSC and ASC Chain of Custody certification enables your organization to:

• Demonstrate that your products originate from a sustainable source
• Meet consumer demand for product sourcing information
• Ensure a sustainable and secure food chain
• Build consumer trust
• Support the positioning of your product with the eco-label
• Meet retail demand for verification of sustainably sourced products
• Trade with leading retailers and retail chains that require certification

Use of the MSC or ASC eco-label on seafood products is only permitted where there has been an independent verification against the MSC Chain of Custody Standard and ASC CoC Module, and where the company has signed a logo licensing agreement with the scheme owner.

Getting started

DNV is an independent third-party certification body accredited for the MSC Chain of Custody standard as well as the ASC Chain of Custody module. To evaluate the integrity of the chain of custody for relevant seafood and seafood products and their origin, DNV assesses processes, evaluates related records and reconciles product quantity.