Checking evidence

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 Remember that certificates are sometimes suspended or withdrawn: if you wish to check a certificate’s validity you can either contact the certification scheme or the supplier’s certification body for further information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 databases 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.  For FSC, check  www.fsc-info.org, PEFC http://register.pefc.cz/search1.asp and CSA and SFI share a database at: www.certifiedwoodsearch.org  

In the Approved schemes section you can link to sample certificates for each scheme.  For more information, refer to the CPET guidance on checking a certificate.

Invoices and delivery notes

Q. Have you checked that you have actually received certified products?

A. When you purchase certified products from a CoC holder, they must identify these products on the invoice/delivery note they give you and that the product specification clearly state that a certified product has been supplied.

Note: Suppliers can use invoice and delivery note templates with their chain of custody number also when they supply non-certified products. Therefore always remember to ensure that delivery of certified products are specified.

. 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 receive an invoice that doesn't identify my products as certified?

A. It is likely that you have not received certified products.  However, you should ask for clarification from your supplier before rejecting the delivery.