Food Quality Magazine July 2015 | Page 6

Food Quality Magazine ISSUE 03 | JULY 2015 Becoming MSC certified Why MSC certified seafood Becoming MSC certified • When you source or buy MSC certified seafood, you are helping to save the oceans. MSC Chain of Custody ensures traceability of certified sustainable seafood through every stage of processing, from fishery to final consumer. All companies in the supply chain that wish to handle or sell MSC certified product, must have MSC Chain of Custody certification. To receive MSC certification, a business must meet the requirements within the MSC Chain of Custody Standard. Independent certification bodies carry out an assessment to the MSC requirements. • Processors, retailers and restaurants must ensure that MSC seafood is not mixed with uncertified product and can be traced back to a certified fishery. Therefore, you can be sure that the product is correctly labelled. • MSC fisheries and retailers can also receive potential price premiums for MSC certified fish. The potential for price premiums varies on a case by case bases. A recent study into Scottish haddock found that MSC certification resulted in a 10% price premium for retailers (see this article on www.fishupdate.com). The full report can be found at msc.org • When you choose MSC seafood, you are also demonstrating your commitment to sustainability. • You can enjoy your seafood knowing that tomorrow there will be plenty more where it came from! 6 There is more information on how to get certified on our msc.org/getcertified. Where to find MSC certified products More than 250 fisheries in over 30 countries are certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard. These fisheries have a combined annual seafood production of almost nine million tonnes, representing close to 10% of annual global yields. More than 26,000 seafood products worldwide are MSC certified. More than 2,700 supply chain organisations are certified to handle MSC certified products. Find out where to buy MSC certified seafood at msc.org/where-to-buy. About the Marine Stewardship Council The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization known for its efforts in addressing the problem of unsustainable fishing and safeguarding seafood supplies for the future. With the world’s most recognizable certification and e