Inspection Services
In export-import operations sometime the buyer wants to verify the quality and quantity of the gods to be bought. This applies mainly in cases of high-value purchases or when the quality os of high importance. In this case the buyer may retain the services of inspection and certification companies to make sure the seller will send the agreed quantities and qualities. The inspection and verifications services imply additional costs, so the buyer has to make the trade-off between costs and importance of the goods purchased.
We have not integrated any direct access to inspection and certification companies, but below are some links that might be helpful, with some brief comments based on the information posted on their website:
1. Intertek (www.intertek.con) with network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 43,000 people in more than 100 countries. Provides the following services:
a. Inspection: Validating the specifications, value and safety of your raw materials, products and assets.
b. Certification: Formally confirming that your products and services meet all trusted external and internal standards.
c. Testing: Evaluating how your products and services meet and exceed quality, safety, sustainability and performance standards.
d. Assurance: Enabling you to identify and mitigate the intrinsic risk in your operations, supply chains and quality management systems.
2. Cotecna (www.cotecna.com) with more than 100 offices in across approximately 50 countries. Offers the following services:
a. Agriculture and Food: Safeguarding the integrity and safety of agriculture and food products is critical at every stage of the supply chain. Our inspection and testing services enable clients to mitigate risk and verify product conformity.
b. Government and Trade: Governments face an increasing challenge to control legitimate trade whilst maintaining effective cross-border security. We offer them tailored solutions and know-how in order to facilitate trade and help them boost their revenues.
c. Minerals and Metals: Poor quality metals and minerals can be costly and damaging, both for the industry and the environment. Our highly reactive network of experts and laboratories enable our clients to verify product conformity and reduce risk.
d. General Cargo: While manufacturing supply chains are becoming more and more complex, a business’s reputation is increasingly reliant upon a fast-moving and adaptable inspection team. We offer a full range of services for general cargo, consumer goods and all types of manufactured products, including marine services, product inspection and testing, as well as technical assistance.
3. SGS (www.sgs.com) with more than 95,000 employees, we operate a network of more than 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world. Our core services can be divided into four categories:
a. Inspection: our comprehensive range of world-leading inspection and verification services, such as checking the condition and weight of traded goods at transshipment, help you to control quantity and quality, and meet all relevant regulatory requirements across different regions and markets
b. Testing: our global network of testing facilities, staffed by knowledgeable and experienced personnel, enable you to reduce risks, shorten time to market and test the quality, safety and performance of your products against relevant health, safety and regulatory standards
c. Certification: we enable you to demonstrate that your products, processes, systems or services are compliant with either national or international standards and regulations or customer defined standards, through certification
d. Verification: we ensure that products and services comply with global standards and local regulations. Combining global coverage with local knowledge, unrivalled experience and expertise in virtually every industry, SGS covers the entire supply chain from raw materials to final consumption.
4. Bureau Veritas (https://group.bureauveritas.com/) has around 75,000 employees located in more than 1,400 offices and laboratories around the globe.
a. Testing: Our testing and analysis services enable to check that products and commodities have the required properties. We also test for compliance with applicable standards, regulations and specifications, performing laboratory and on-site testing for manufacturing and process industries. We benefit from a large network of laboratories operating worldwide. Offering state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and field-specific technical expertise, our facilities are strategically located for our clients’ benefit, granting easier access from ports and major manufacturing locations.
b. Inspection: On-site inspections aim at making sure products, services, assets and installations are manufactured or operating as intended. Covering a wide range of services, these inspections are designed to control quality, verify quantity and meet regulatory requirements. Our inspection services give companies confidence in the reliability and integrity of their products, assets and systems.
c. Certification: As an independent third party and accredited certification body, we attest that management systems, services and people comply with specific standards. Equipment and products across industries and sectors may be certified to international or national regulations, voluntary industry standards, or manufacturer and client requirements. Certification allows companies to access new markets, fortify their brands or simply to operate.