MSC pilots traceability tool

Over the past two years the MSC has been piloting a new traceability tool, the MSC Online Transaction Solution. The tool is pioneering, as to date there is no online system available that can securely handle and verify information of seafood supply chain transactions on a global scale. It verifies seafood sales and purchases made by processing, distribution and retail companies as it moves through the complex global supply chain.

Since its development in 2012, the online verification tool has been trialled in seven European and 15 Chinese companies. The current plan is to roll the tool out to over 3,000 supply chain companies handling certified products in over 34,000 sites around the world.

“We took part in trialling the MSC Online Transaction Solution and felt it is an important addition to our business. The tool provides us with added confidence that our brand and products are running through a secure and genuine supply chain handling only certified seafood”, said Alex Olsen, A. Espersen A/S, a MSC certified processing company in Denmark.

Using latest technologies, the tool will complement, but not replace, the existing MSC Chain of Custody system.

If the pilot proves successful, the new tool will be implemented across the full program by 2018. The tool will verify seafood sales and purchases transaction information (such as volume, species, invoice number and transaction date) to mitigate the risk of non-sustainable products being labelled and sold as certified.

The public consultation is open from 17 August to 18 September 2015. Seafood industry members can share insights by taking part in the online consultation.

Members of the seafood industry are also invited to join an online interactive workshop taking place on 2 and 3 September. The workshops are designed for supply chain companies to offer practical solutions on seafood transaction and verification. Spaces are limited and interest can be registered by emailing standards@msc.org.