The Export Operator Notes
How to Verify a Food Manufacturer's Certification Claim
A certificate logo on a website proves very little Verification means matching a current certificate to the exact legal entity, site, product and process proposed for your order
Read the certificate as a structured claim
A credible certificate should let you identify what was certified, where, by whom, under which scheme and for what period
- Certified legal entity and any trading name
- Physical site address, including any separate warehouse or packing site
- Standard and scheme version
- Scope of products, processes and activities
- Certificate number, issue date, expiry date and surveillance status
- Certification body and accreditation information
- Exclusions, outsourced processes and annexes
Match the scope to the actual order
A valid certificate can still be irrelevant A site certified for dry foods does not automatically cover aseptic puree A head office certificate does not automatically cover a separate contract packing site A warehouse scope does not prove manufacturing controls
Write the proposed product, process, packaging line and site beside the certificate scope Resolve every gap in writing before relying on the claim
Use the scheme's live verification route
FSSC publishes a register of currently certified organizations BRCGS provides its directory IAF CertSearch can validate many accredited management system certificates Search by certificate number and legal name, then compare the returned scope and site
A missing record is not automatic proof of fraud because coverage and access vary It is a reason to ask the certification body for written confirmation and investigate the accreditation chain
Evidence: FSSC public register, BRCGS Directory, IAF CertSearch
What certification does not prove
Certification is one evidence layer It does not replace product specific due diligence
- That your formulation meets destination law
- That the approved sample matches the production lot
- That capacity or lead time claims are accurate
- That every test result is within your private specification
- That the certificate has never been suspended between documents
- That the certifier accepts liability for your shipment
Evidence: Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene, CXC 1-1969
Certificate verification record
- Full certificate and annex obtained
- Entity and site matched
- Product and process scope matched
- Dates and status checked
- Certification body identified
- Accreditation chain checked
- Live register searched where available
- Verification evidence saved with date
Directory availability differs by scheme and country A certificate should be evaluated with the supplier's risk, product controls, audit evidence and lot specific acceptance plan
Official sources
Sources are selected for the claims in this guide. Requirements can change, so verify the current rule for your product and destination before acting.
Related next step
Start a sourcing request
Send the product, destination, packaging, estimated volume and required certifications. Galaxa will identify the missing specification and qualification fields before approaching a manufacturer.