Chain of Custody is the traceability element of the MSC certification programme. If a fishery is assessed to the MSC Standard for Sustainable Fishing, use of the MSC eco-label on seafood products is permitted only where there has been independent verification that the product originated from a certified fishery. An independent certification against the Chain of Custody (CofC) Standard provides this verification.

Chain of Custody (CofC) Standard contains four sections:

Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Chain of Custody guidelines (quick start guide, record keeping, goods in, processing, goods out)
Section 3: General information (includes selecting a certification body, information on logo use, promoting your   

company's use of the label, glossary and a full copy of the Chain of Custody Standard)
Section 4: Chain of Custody certification for groups