The most common certification mistake in seafood procurement is treating "MSC certified" as one thing. It is two, and a supplier can hold one without the other. This guide explains the difference, shows what each certificate number looks like, and sets out how to verify both yourself in under five minutes.
Two certificates, two different claims
A fishery certificate assesses a fishery — a defined combination of
species, gear, area and management. It answers: is this stock being fished sustainably and
managed effectively? Fishery certificate references begin MSC-F-.
A chain-of-custody certificate assesses a business. It answers: can this
company demonstrate that certified material stays segregated and correctly identified as it
moves through purchase, processing, storage and sale? Chain-of-custody references begin
MSC-C-.
Both are required for the claim to reach a consumer pack. A processor buying from a certified fishery without holding chain of custody cannot legitimately sell the product on with the label. A processor holding chain of custody but buying uncertified raw material has nothing certified to sell.
| Fishery certificate | Chain of custody | |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | MSC-F- | MSC-C- |
| Assesses | The fishery: stock, impact, management | The business: segregation, traceability, records |
| Held by | The fishery client | Each company in the supply chain |
| Key scope field | Species, gear and FAO area | Sites, products and activities covered |
| What it does not prove | That any given lot is certified material | That the source fishery is certified |
The five fields that matter on any certificate
- Certificate number. The only reliable key for verification. A supplier who will not give you the number has told you something.
- Certificate holder. Check it matches the legal entity on your contract and your invoice — not a group name, a trading name or a parent company.
- Scope. The species, gear and area for a fishery certificate; the sites, products and activities for chain of custody. Scope is where genuine certificates most often fail to cover the product actually being sold.
- Validity dates. Certificates expire and can be suspended. A PDF proves the state of the world on the day it was issued, which is why the register beats the PDF.
- Certification body. The independent auditor that issued it.
cert.msc.org. The register reflects current status — including suspensions — and a
PDF does not. This applies to every scheme, not only MSC: check FSSC certificates at
fssc.com the same way.
Worked example: this company's certificates
Both documents are published in full on our certifications page, with issuing body, scope, validity and a link to the certificate copy. In summary:
- Fishery — MSC-F-31264. Issued by Bureau Veritas Certification. Scope: Chile squat lobsters and nylon shrimp modified trawl fishery, FAO Area 87 (Pacific, Southeast). This is the document behind the sustainability claim on langostino and nylon shrimp.
- Chain of custody — MSC-C-55732. Issued by SGS Nederland B.V., against Chain of Custody Default Version 5.1. This is the document that allows the claim to travel with the product through our plant to your container.
Note that the two are issued by different certification bodies. That is normal and not a red flag — fishery assessment and chain-of-custody audit are separate services.
How the claim travels to your label
If you intend to carry the ecolabel on your own consumer pack, you will need chain of custody yourself, and so will anyone between us and you who takes ownership of the product. The certificate chain has to be unbroken. Two practical points:
- Trader links count. An uncertified intermediary breaks the chain even if both ends are certified.
- Label artwork is separately controlled. Holding chain of custody is not the same as having approval to use the mark on a specific pack; ecolabel use is licensed and artwork is approved separately.
Certification is not a substitute for food safety documentation
Sustainability certification says nothing about food safety. Those are covered by different programmes — in our case FSSC 22000 for the plant, a validated HACCP plan, ISO 9001 and US FDA food-facility registration, all listed with their issuing bodies and scopes on the certifications page. A complete supplier qualification file needs both families of document, and a supplier offering one in place of the other has not answered the question.
Products covered in this guide
Frequently asked
What is the difference between MSC-F- and MSC-C- numbers?
MSC-F- identifies a certified fishery — a species, gear and area combination. MSC-C- identifies a company's chain-of-custody certificate. Both are needed for a certified claim to reach a consumer pack.
How do I verify an MSC certificate?
Search the certificate number in the public register at cert.msc.org. The register shows current status including suspensions, which a supplied PDF cannot.
Do I need chain of custody if I am only importing, not relabelling?
If you take ownership of the product and make or pass on a certified claim, you generally need it. Any uncertified link in the chain breaks the claim. Confirm your own position with your certification body.
Does an MSC certificate cover food safety?
No. Food safety is covered by separate programmes such as FSSC 22000, HACCP and regulatory registrations. A complete supplier file needs both.
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