Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) | Certification TÜV NORD

MSC Siegel - Das nachhaltige Fischsiegel

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) standards help your company label wild-caught fish as sustainable and controlled. Fish stocks are endangered worldwide, and overfishing harms the marine ecosystem as well as the fishing industry. For this reason, the international, independent, and non-profit organization MSC has developed standards for sustainable fishing, which counteract this. As an accredited certification company, TÜV NORD CERT offers certification according to the MSC seal.

Through a successful audit, you document sustainable commitment to the responsible handling of fish. The certification ensures complete traceability and proves the transparent supply chain. After successful certification, you as a company may use the MSC seal of approval on your products. TÜV NORD CERT takes over the product chain certification according to MSC "Chain of Custody" for all companies in the supply chain (we do not currently offer certification for on-site fisheries).

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MSC Marine Stewardship Council: Your advantages through MSC certification

Protection of fish stocks
Protection of the oceans and reduction of harmful impacts
Effective management for fisheries focused on sustainable exploitation
Building trust with customers and fisheries
Access to new customer groups

Competitive advantages through evidence of legal fishing
Compliance with applicable laws
International validity
Process optimization

MSC certificate: Your certification from TÜV NORD CERT

FAQs on MSC Certification:

Which companies should get a MSC Certificate?

The MSC certification is suitable for all companies in the fishing industry worldwide that focus on sustainable fishing. This includes the following organizations:

Import
Processing
Subcontracting
Wholesale and retail trade
Community catering establishments and restaurants
Fishing associations

What changes apply to the MSC from May 2023?

As of May 2023, the following two changes must be taken into account:

ASC CoC Module version 1.0, which is valid from 30.05.2023.
MSC Labout Eligibility Requirement version 1.0, which is valid from 01.05.2023.

You can find further information on both requirements under these links:

What is the MSC "Chain of Custody"?

Chain of Custody means the processing supply chain from fish and seafood to the end product. TÜV NORD CERT takes over the certification according to MSC "Chain of Custody" for your company in the downstream supply chain. We do not currently offer on-site certification for fisheries.

MSC or ASC: Which standard is right for you?

While both standards are structured very similarly, they differ in use by industry. Fisheries are certified to the MSC standard, and farms and aquaculture fish products are certified to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). A planned MSC can be combined with an ASC audit.

How to I get the MSC CoC Logo on my products?

After successful certification, you may label your products with the MSC logo. As a certified company, you can also register with MSCI (Marine Stewardship Council International) to use the MSC logo. (To do this, you will need a valid logo use agreement with the MSC.

How to prepare for the MSC Audit?

An optional pre-audit uncovers possible weaknesses in advance, but is only the dress rehearsal for your audit and is not effective for certification. You will receive a non-conformance report and can effectively determine optimization needs for your system. Your staff should also be trained on the MSC principles and an MSC representative should be appointed. Information on the requirements of the standard can be obtained directly from the MSC website.

In the subsequent certification audit, MSC auditors from TÜV NORD CERT visit your company and check the documentation on traceability from incoming goods to outgoing goods. Through interviews with employees, compliance with the requirements is checked. After successful certification, TÜV NORD CERT issues the MSC certificate, which is valid for three years. There are regular monitoring audits to ensure compliance.

MSC Certificate from TÜV NORD CERT: How you benefit from us

We provide you with reliable and independent advice: Our team of experts accompanies you through your entire certification process. Our many years of experience with certifications and the knowledge of a worldwide network of interdisciplinary experts are at your side throughout the entire audit. In this way, we ensure an efficient and clear audit process. With TÜV NORD CERT as your certification body, you benefit from the worldwide recognition of the TÜV brand. Our certificates stand for objectivity and competence.