What is an Inspection Certificate and when is it used?

• A. A document that certifies the export license.
• B. A certificate verifying insurance coverage.
• C. A shipping manifest for export.
• D. A certificate verifying quality/quantity and compliance with order specifications; used by buyers or customs to verify goods.

Answer: (D)

An Inspection Certificate is a document issued by a recognized inspection body confirming that the goods have been checked and meet the agreed quality and quantity, and comply with the order specifications. It serves as verification that what’s being shipped matches what was contracted, and it may accompany the shipment to give buyers and customs confidence before clearance or payment. This isn’t an export license, which authorizes that shipment to go out of a country, nor is it a certificate of insurance or a shipping manifest. The certificate is specifically about how the goods measure up to the contract—quality, quantity, and conformity—and it’s commonly demanded by buyers and sometimes required by customs or banks in international trade.