Document Actions
Checking evidence
If you have been provided with evidence of certification, there are some simple steps to follow in order to verify its validity.
Certificates
Q. Is the certificate from one of the approved certification schemes?
A. Please refer to the section of the website on approved certification schemes.
Q. Does the certificate cover your products?
A. All certificates have a 'scope' (sometimes called a registration schedule) that defines what products are covered. Sometimes this is on the back, or on a second page. Only categories listed on the certificate are covered by the certification.
Q. Is the certificate valid?
A. All certificates have a limited validity and include an expiry date. Remember that certificates are sometimes suspended or withdrawn: if you wish to check a certificate’s validity you can either contact the certification scheme or the supplier’s certification body for further information (both should be noted on the certificate), or check online.
Q. Is the certificate issues to the company you are purchasing directly from?
A. Occasionally suppliers will provide you with certificates that belong to other organisations. If they are sourcing from a COC holder but are not certified themselves, they will need to provide additional evidence. Please refer to the section of the website on broken chain of custody.
Q. Is there a way to check all this online?
A. Yes. There are databses that you can use to check the names of the companies who have been issued with certificates, and the certificate numbers. In most cases you can check the validity of the certificate, and the scope.
In the Approved schemes section you can link to examples of what certificates look like for each scheme.
Invoices and delivery notes
Q. Have you checked that you have actually recieved certified products?
A. When you purchase certified products from a COC holder, they must identify these products on the invoice or delivery note they give you. The requirement to identify products in this way is part of the certification scheme requirements, and they have been audited on their ability to do this.
Check that the supplier's chain of custody number on the invoice matches the certificate that they provided you with.
Q. What if you recieve an invoice that doesn't identify my products as certified?
A. It is likely that you have not recieved certified products. However, you should ask for clarification from your supplier before rejecting the delivery.
