A revised version of the MSC Objections Process was introduced as a pilot in February 2025. Find out more about the updated version and the intended impact of the changes.
The objections process provides a route for stakeholders in a fishery assessment to challenge the Conformity Assessment Body’s (CAB’s) final determination.
The updated process (version 2.0) was published on 27 February 2025 and will be used for all new objections submitted after this date.
The process will be reviewed after a 12-month pilot period
Why was the objections process revised?
The changes were developed in response to stakeholder feedback and following a review of the MSC's assurance system, which highlighted the need to improve efficiency and accessibility, while maintaining the rigour and independent scrutiny of the process.
The changes also align our process with those of other leading sustainability certification schemes.
Key changes to the process
Changes were introduced in two key areas:
• Revised eligibility criteria
• Objections to be reviewed and investigated by Assurance Services International (ASI)
Updates were also made to the Notice of Objection template, which must be used when submitting an objection.
Revised eligibility criteria
The objections eligibility criteria were reviewed and revised to ensure the process focuses on the procedural performance of CABs, including the rationales for their scores and application of the MSC Fisheries Standard.
Objections should not be based on issues relating to MSC policies, such as disagreements with scope criteria for assessments or the Standard requirements. Stakeholders who wish to raise an issue relating to our Standards are encouraged to contact the MSC or participate in our formal review process.
Objections must also be based on information provided to the CAB during the assessment or lifetime of the certificate. This helps ensure the CAB receives all relevant information during the assessment, allowing input to be properly considered by all assessment
participants.
Review of objections by ASI
We have introduced a stage that requires objections to go through an investigation process undertaken by ASI, the independent body that provides oversight of CAB activities. This stage follows an admissibility review of the Notice of Objection by an independent adjudicator.
A team of technical experts from ASI will carry out an appraisal of each objection to determine if the eligibility criteria have been met and how the objection should be addressed.
Where required, eligible objections will then be investigated by ASI, who will establish whether the CAB followed assessment procedures correctly and if the CAB needs to make corrections to the Final Draft Report.
The formal consultation and adjudication hearing process will now only be used in exceptional circumstances.
The revisions maintain the rigour and independent scrutiny of the objections process, while improving efficiency and removing barriers to accessibility.
Faster and more efficient process
There is now a defined timeline for each stage of the process, and objections are likely to be resolved within two to three months, whereas the previous process could take up to nine months.
Fewer costs
Resolving most conditions through ASI, rather than immediate escalation to adjudication, is also expected to reduce costs. Under the previous process, parties to an objection often felt obliged to engage legal representation and incurred costs attending in-person adjudication hearings.
Additional oversight
The new role for ASI - experts in auditing CAB compliance with our Standard - provides additional scrutiny of CAB performance and will ensure corrective action is taken if necessary. It also brings the process into line with other leading sustainability certification schemes.
Policy development
The revisions to the eligibility criteria will also ensure that issues relating to Standard requirements and other MSC policies are addressed through a formal Standard review rather than the objections process.
This will make sure any policy changes are subject to proper scrutiny, including public consultation and impact assessments, and will help ensure that the Standard is applied consistently.
How were the changes developed?
The changes were developed with input from our Stakeholder Advisory Council, which established a working group to review the previous process and propose potential improvements. This group included both NGO and fishing industry representatives.
The MSC also worked with ASI to revise the process and sought feedback from a panel of independent adjudicators. An ASI analysis of 50 previous objections found strong alignment (over 95%) with the original decisions made by independent adjudicators. This provided confidence that ASI could appraise objections to the same high standard as an independent adjudicator.
What about issues that don’t meet the scope of objections?
There are several other routes available for stakeholders who wish to provide feedback on the MSC program or raise concerns outside of the objections process.
We welcome stakeholder input in the development of our Standards and encourage participation during standard reviews. Feedback or issues relating to MSC policies can also be submitted to [email protected], helping us identify key issues to address in future reviews.
Stakeholders can also submit complaints about the conduct of a CAB or certificate holder. These should be sent directly to the relevant CAB and can be escalated to ASI if necessary.
Find out more about the mechanisms for submitting feedback or a complaint.
