How to Spot Fake Certificates When Importing from China

If you’re a small brand, or don’t manufacture your own products, the authorities expect you to be liable for all aspects of your products safety. It can be estimated that around 30% of all product safety certificates coming out of China are fake. Sure, a fake certificate could get your goods through customs, but they won’t be of much help later on.

Before ever accepting a factories word for telling you a product is certified, always ask to see the certificate. But be forewarned, just because a factory sends you a certificate, does not mean the products you are importing are considered ‘certified’.

Factories are known to cut corners and save money on every production they run. A certification, especially on sensitive products such as toys, chemicals or electronics does not mean all of your products have passed. Factories who do not control their production process could do one production run and send samples to a testing laboratory, only to run the next production with completely different quality standards.

While it is always wise to require testing be done by well known laboratories, a certification from one of those companies does not guarantee the the product passes.

What to Watch Out For

Here are a list of possibilities to watch out for:

• A Chinese manufacturer who keeps changing the production process
• Fabricated certificates – certificates created by lab employees within one of the major testing companies
• Fake certificates
• Unknown testing companies

Manufacturers who continuously change their production processes may be difficult to spot if you’re unable to oversee the production. When dealing with sensitive products, it is always best to have some form of a safety net to ensure all productions stay at the same required standards. Inspection companies offer various services to assist with this if you’re unable to have your own team in China.

Fabricated certificates are incredibly difficult to spot. A lab employee could enter the certification into their company’s system, all checks would show it to be a real certification, but the test was never done. When in doubt, use multiple laboratories.

Fake certificates often come in the form of .jpeg, .png, .doc or scanned documents. A real certificate will always be issued as a .PDF file. If you are ever unsure of the legitimacy of a certificate, you can always contact the testing company to verify. Some companies allow you to search through their online database for verification.

Popular Company Databases for Verification

• Intertek: https://www.intertek.com/business-assurance/certificate-validation/
• Rheinland: https://www.certipedia.com/search/companies_with_certified_products
• SGS: https://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/Certified-Client-Directories/Overview.aspx
• TUV: https://www.tuv-sud-america.com/us-en/resource-center/customer-support/certificate-finder/tuev-sued-client-database

If you’re ever unsure about a testing laboratory, you can always Google their name and see if they are ISO 17025 certified. You can also take a closer look and determine if their testing scope includes the product you had tested.

Key Takeaway

The most important thing for all importers to understand is, YOU are always responsible. A factories job is to get you the products, but anything that happens after that is on you. Use your due diligence and take the time to ensure all safety requirements are covered so you are at less of a risk.

How to verify a certificate before you rely on it

A certificate is only useful if you can trace it back to the body that issued it and confirm it covers the product you are actually importing. Check the issuing body independently rather than through the link or contact detail printed on the document itself.

Checks that separate a genuine certificate from a copied one

Check	What to do
Issuing body	Find the issuing organisation independently and use the contact details published on its own site
Reference number	Verify the certificate reference directly with the issuer
Product scope	Confirm the certificate names your product or model, not a similar one
Validity	Check the issue and expiry dates and whether the standard is current
Standard cited	Confirm the standard or regulation actually applies to your product and destination

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a test certificate is genuine?

Verify it with the issuing body using contact details you found independently, and confirm the certificate names your product and cites a standard that applies to it. Do not rely on the document’s own contact details.

What should I do if a supplier sends a certificate for a similar product?

Treat it as not applicable. A certificate issued for another model, specification or factory does not cover your order, and relying on it shifts the compliance risk onto you.

Does a certificate replace inspection?

No. A certificate addresses conformity with a standard or regulation. Inspection confirms what was actually produced and packed against your specification.

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