The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is offering fisheries a six-month extension on the usual timelines for assessments and certifications in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The measures, the first such in the MSC’s 22 year history, are effective from 27 March and means that assessments, audits and certifications will be subject to an automatic six-month grace period.
“This is an extraordinary moment in history, unprecedented in modern times,” said Rupert Howes, chief executive of MSC. “MSC is acutely aware that many of our partners are facing enormous challenges and uncertainty. For some it may be a question of survival.”
Fishery partners who wish to go ahead with remote audits and existing timelines can do so provided this is feasible and agreed with conformity assessment bodies. For supply chain businesses with an MSC Chain of Custody certificate, audits can still be conducted remotely. If this is not possible, a six-month extension can be requested.
The MSC team will be contacting fisheries, conformity assessment bodies and partners in the seafood supply chain with further information. Other MSC activities, such as the licensing of products, will continue as normal.
