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Chain of Custody Standard
Ensuring the integrity of ASC certified supply chains and ASC labelled seafood, all the way to consumers.
ASC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificate holders are certified against the MSC CoC Standard – a traceability and segregation standard applicable to the full supply chain – and strengthened by the ASC CoC module.
Chain of Custody certification, along with the ASC Label License Agreement, permits the use of the ASC label on the end product. This delivers traceability due diligence, de-risks seafood fraud in the supply chain and assures consumers that the seafood they choose comes from responsible ASC certified farms.
The Chain of Custody Standard
ASC uses the MSC Chain of Custody Standard to verify the origin of seafood sold as ASC certified or labelled. This process benefits companies that handle both ASC and MSC certified seafood by allowing them to do a combined audit.
ASC Module
ASC Chain of Custody certificate holders also need to meet requirements of the additional ASC CoC Module (to be found under ‘All documents’ below). These requirements increase integrity of seafood supply chains by addressing key details including food safety and antibiotic detection, bringing increased assurance value to the ASC label. To see the history of the CoC Module development, see the completed projects page ASC CoC Module.
Consumers look for the ASC label
According to independent research, the ASC label is the most recognised and trusted farmed seafood label, as well as having the highest association with sustainability and responsibility.
This makes it the perfect prompt for seafood shoppers to make the responsible choice.
What is Chain of Custody Certification?
Multiple pathways to certification
The CoC standard has been designed so that any company can use it easily.
Default
Single or multi-site organisations distributing, processing or trading ASC certified seafood
Group
Organisations with a central office and many locations distributing, processing or trading ASC certified seafood
Consumer-facing
Retailers, restaurants, caterers and fresh fish counters selling ASC certified seafood
Start your certification journey by comparing independent certifiers (CABs) on the ASI website:
All documents
Get certified guides
- ASC QUICK START GUIDE
- GET CERTIFIED GUIDE: CHAIN OF CUSTODY
- GET CERTIFIED GUIDE: COC (GROUP VERSION)
- GET CERTIFIED GUIDE: COC (CONSUMER FACING ORGANISATION)
Guidance for sourcing ASC certified products
ASC CoC Module documents
Translated documents