CERTIFICAZIONE MSC™ – Marine Stewardship Council™
Il Marine Stewardship Council™ (MSC™) è un’organizzazione internazionale senza scopo di lucro, fondata nel 1997 per affrontare il problema della pesca non sostenibile e per garantire l’approvvigionamento di prodotti ittici anche per il futuro.
La certificazione MSC, che costituisce il principale schema di certificazione della pesca sostenibile a livello internazionale, è una certificazione volontaria aperta a tutte le aziende coinvolte nella pesca. Essa si basa su uno standard di pesca sostenibile e su un meccanismo di tracciabilità dei prodotti ittici. Il sistema contribuisce in modo responsabile ad una migliore gestione e conservazione delle risorse ittiche a livello mondiale.
Il Marine Stewardship Council ha sviluppato due diversi standard, il primo per le aziende di pesca ed il secondo per le aziende che trasformano e/o commercializzano i prodotti ittici certificati MSC e che devono pertanto garantire la tracciabilità dei prodotti lungo la catena di custodia.
- Lo standard MSC della pesca sostenibile certifica gli stock ittici e si basa su tre principi fondamentali (e 31 criteri) che riguardano la salvaguardia del patrimonio ittico, l’impatto delle operazioni di pesca ed il rispetto della normativa. L’organizzazione certificata deve dimostrare di mettere in atto buone pratiche di gestione che vanno dal monitoraggio delle attività alla valutazione degli impatti. L’iter di certificazione delle attività di pesca è un processo pubblico, gestito da auditor altamente qualificati e con diverse esperienze. Per ulteriori approfondimenti è possibile visitare il sito www.msc.org.
- Lo standard della catena di custodia MSC garantisce la tracciabilità dei prodotti ittici certificati MSC (pesce, crostacei, molluschi…) lungo tutta la catena di trasformazione, lavorazione e distribuzione del prodotto. Tutte le aziende della catena che intendono gestire o vendere prodotti pescati certificati MSC devono essere in possesso di un certificato della Catena di Custodia. Gli schemi di certificazione MSC e ASC (per l’acquacoltura sostenibile) condividono il medesimo standard della catena di custodia. Questo permette alle aziende di gestire in modo comodo e prativo una doppia certificazione seguendo le regole di un solo standard.
Grazie alla Catena di Custodia il prodotto finale può essere etichettato e i consumatori possono scegliere prodotti ittici (pesce, crostacei, molluschi…) pescati in modo sostenibile e responsabile.
Lo schema di certificazione MSC è di parte terza. Vireo è un ente di certificazione indipendente accreditato da ASI (Accreditation Services International) per svolgere le verifiche ispettive ed emettere i certificati ASC (ASI-ACC-086).
FAQ
MSC certificates are valid for 3 years with an annual inspection.
When the company is ready, Vireo plans a first certification audit (Main Assessment). In this phase all the information is collected and, if everything is in order, the certificate is issued a few days later. The company must indicate the MSC certified fish species and the certified suppliers that have been identified.
The standard consists of five principles.
1) Certified products must be purchased from certified suppliers
2) Certified products must be identifiable
3) Certified products must be kept separate
4) Certified products must be traceable and volumes must be recorded
5) The organization must have a management system.
The main aspects are registration (traceability) and correct identification and separation.
All enterprises who acquire legal ownership of the MSC product, even without physical possession, and want to resell it as such should be certified Some specific exceptions to this general rule are described in the MSC chain of custody standard.
Yes, both MSC and ASC schemes share the same chain of custody standard. Companies can therefore opt for a dual MSC and ASC certification.
Yes, there is a cost to using the MSC brand. Management is the responsibility of MSC International. Yes, there is a cost to using the MSC brand. Management is the responsibility of MSC International. The relevant criteria for being able to use the logo can be found on the MSC International website, whereas the costs can be found on the page“Cost to use the MSC label”.
- Principle 1: Sustainability of the fish stock
The fishing activity must be carried out in compliance with the sustainability of the existing fish stocks. Any certified fishing company must operate ensuring the conservation of species and avoiding the overfishing of stock.
- Principle 2: Minimal environmental impact
Fisheries must preserve the structure, productivity, functions and diversity of the ecosystem.
- Principle 3: Effective Management
Companies in the seafood sector must comply with all local, national and international laws and regulations, setting up a management system that allows them to adapt to changing circumstances and ensure sustainability.
MSC/ASC chain of custody standard
The MSC and ASC chain of custody certificationguarantees the traceability of MSC certified seafood products. It is based on a standard of traceability and segregation that is applicable to the entire production chain.
Chain of custody is based on some general aspects such as:
- The definition of roles and responsibilities,
- verification of MSC or ASC raw material supplies
- Proper segregation of raw material in the warehousing stages and in the processing and manufacturing stages
- Records management (input quantities, processed, transformed, etc.)
- sale and labeling of finished product
The focus of certification is therefore to pursue the non-mixing of MSC or ASC product with non-certified product.
Chain of Custody MSC and ASC certificates are valid for 3 years. During this period, the performance of companies must be examined to see that they continue to meet the MSC and ASC standards. After 3 years the company must be completely reexamined if it wishes to remain in the MSC and ASC program.
Only certified companies can put the MSC or ASC mark on certified products and also use it for promotion. The MSC and ASC logos are registered trademarks whose use is granted, subject to payment of fees, by MSC International.
The MSC label on the product means that the fish comes from sustainable fisheries, while ASC-labeled products come from responsible fish farms.
DOWNLOADS
MSC CHAIN OF CUSTODY STANDARD (VERSION 5)
MSC CERTIFICATION PROCESS GUIDELINE (EN)
DISPUTES AND CONFLICTS PROCEDURE – COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS PROCEDURE
TESTIMONIES
STARLAKS ITALIA SRL
We began working with Vireo to achieve MSC chain-of-custody certification. Now we have again chosen Vireo’s expertise and professionalism to obtain ASC certification. Highly competent staff, professional and available for clarification or insight.
ITTITALIA SRL
MSC and ASC certifications for Ittitalia means giving consumers greater awareness in choosing the seafood they buy. Thanks to Vireo we are taking the first steps to be able to achieve this goal. For us, Vireo stands for professionalism, competence, courtesy and helpfulness of the staff.
AGRAS SRL
We met Vireo in 2013 when we were among the first in Italy to believe in MSC certification. Since then helpful and competent professionals have been certifying our company in the MSC chain of custody.
R.BUSANEL & F.LI SRL
We are very satisfied with the cooperation with Vireo, with whom we prepared and obtained MSC and ASC certifications in a short time, thus giving prompt response to market needs.