Marine Stewardship Council
A plus for responsible fisheries
Fish and seafood are among the most important foods in the world. But the fish stocks are under pressure: Over-fishing not only damages the maritime ecosystem, but also the fishing industry. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is working to prevent this.
This international, independent and non-profit organisation has developed standards for sustainable fishing and is helping consumers to identify fisheries that behave responsibly by means of a certification system. TÜV NORD CERT is one of the few accredited partners in Germany to provide certification based on MSC specifications.
National and international companies from almost all branches of the fishing industry can be certified. This includes: importers, processers, deliverers, wholesale and retail dealers, communal feeding facilities, restaurants and fishing collectives. By means of a successful audit, they can document sustainable engagement in the responsible handling of fish – because more and more retailers and consumers are demanding proof of the origin of the products they purchase. By means of gap-free traceability, the certification ensures that the goods come from legal catches, thereby increasing the trustworthiness for fisheries, customers and end consumers.
After the certification, the companies may use the well-known MSC logo on their products. This brings many competitive advantages, opens up access to new, environmentally conscious consumer groups and provides independent proof of a gap-free, transparent supply chain. The fish information centre (FIZ) in Hamburg is also publicizing the seal.
TÜV NORD CERT performs the product chain certification as per MSC "Chain of Custody" Version 2, August 2005, for all companies in the supply chain (on-site certification of fisheries is currently not offered).
The certification is implemented as follows:
- An optional pre-audit will uncover any possible weak points in advance.
- After the employees are informed about the MSC principles, an MSC representative is appointed to monitor compliance with the MSC requirements.
- Accredited certifiers and MSC auditors from TÜV NORD CERT visit the company, check the documentation for traceability - from goods receipt to goods issue - and conduct interviews with employees in order to get a picture of how the fish are handled.
- If necessary, the certifiers impose conditions, for example, about the presentation of a proven certificate for suppliers.
- After successful certification, TÜV NORD CERT creates a report and issues the MSC certificate, which is valid for three years. Following this, there are regular supervisory audits to ensure the standard is being met.
- The certified company can register with MSCI (Marine Stewardship Council International) for use of the MSC logo.
Further information: www.msc.org
