Due Diligence
Part of Product compliance sourcing checks
Checking the scope and date of a supplier certificate
Review the certificate type, holder, product or activity, dates and current status before using it as sourcing evidence.
First identify whether the document certifies a management system, a product or a laboratory’s competence. Match its holder, covered site, activity or product, standard and dates to the supplier, goods and claim. A genuine certificate may still be current but irrelevant to the product or claim.
Identify the certificate type
Certification is written assurance from an independent body that a product, service or system meets specified requirements. Accreditation is different: an independent body formally recognises that a certification body operates according to international standards. ISO develops standards; it does not perform certification or issue certificates.
An ISO 9001 certificate covers an organisation’s quality management system, not each product’s compliance with a safety standard. In Australia, ISO 9001:2015 is published locally as AS/NZS ISO 9001:2016, with identical requirements. Match the designation and scope to the claim rather than treating either as product certification.
Product certification identifies a product and requirements; laboratory accreditation applies only to specified activities. If the claim is that a finished product meets an Australian requirement, a factory system certificate alone is not enough: seek evidence specific to that product and requirement. The ACCC says suppliers remain legally responsible for product safety and can request written evidence through third-party product certification or testing, preferably from accredited bodies or laboratories.
Certification vs Accreditation: Key Differences for Australian Suppliers
- CertificationIndependent assurance that a product, service or system meets specified requirements. Issued by a certification body.
- ISO RoleDevelops international standards (e.g., ISO 9001), but does not perform certification or issue certificates.
Read the scope and dates
Look for the holder’s legal name, certificate number, cited standard, covered sites, activities or product models, exclusions, issue and expiry dates, and any revision shown. If a key detail is absent or unclear, ask the issuer to identify the entity, work or product covered.
Compare the holder and covered site with the supplier and factory in the order. If the order names one company but the certificate names another, do not assume the certificate covers the other company’s manufacturing operations.
Record the issue and expiry dates, then compare the certificate period with the relevant manufacturing or testing period. If the certificate was issued afterwards, ask the issuer whether it covers that earlier activity rather than assuming it applies retrospectively. An expiry date alone does not establish current status because certification can change, be suspended or be withdrawn.
For laboratory accreditation, check whether the particular test method or part of a standard is within the accredited activities. Accreditation for one test does not automatically cover a different test or an entire standard.
Lifecycle of a Supplier Certificate: From Issue to Expiry
- Certificate IssuedDate when the certification body confirms compliance with the standard.
- Expiry DateEnd of validity; renewal must be completed before this date to maintain status.
- Post-Expiry StatusNo longer valid—cannot be used as evidence for sourcing decisions.
Verify the claim
For certification issued by an accredited certification body, use IAF CertSearch, a global database that aggregates information from accreditation and certification bodies and can confirm certification and accreditation status. In Australia, check the JAS-ANZ register to confirm the certifier’s accreditation covers the relevant standard and scope. JAS-ANZ is an accreditation authority appointed jointly by the Australian and New Zealand governments.
Compare any register entry with the certificate number, holder and scope, and check status as well as the expiry date. If the result is missing or inconsistent, treat the status as unresolved and contact the certification body or relevant accreditation body directly using independently found contact details; ISO also identifies Global ACI as a direct contact for verification.
For a laboratory certificate, contact the relevant accreditation body independently and match its accredited activities to the stated test method or part of the standard. Do not treat laboratory accreditation as product certification.
Record the verification date, where you checked, the status confirmed and any limitations. If product coverage or the relevant period remains unclear, request clarification or different evidence, and base the sourcing decision on what the certificate actually covers alongside any separate evidence for the goods.
Steps to Verify a Supplier Certificate in Australia
- Confirm certificate typeEnsure it is product certification, system certification, or laboratory accreditation—not a mix-up between the three.
- Check holder and site matchMatch the legal name and site on the certificate to the supplier and factory in your order.
- Verify datesCompare issue and expiry dates with the manufacturing or testing period. Do not assume retrospective coverage.
- Use official registersCheck IAF CertSearch or JAS-ANZ register for current status of certification and accreditation in Australia.
- Validate laboratory scopeEnsure the accredited activities include the specific test method or part of the standard used.
- Record verification detailsNote date checked, source, confirmed status, and any limitations for audit trail purposes.
