SGS Inspection

SGS Inspection refers to the third-party inspection conducted by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) or its authorized agencies, at the request of the client or as required by a letter of credit, to inspect export goods for quality, quantity, weight, packaging, and shipment, and to issue an SGS Report. SGS is one of the world's largest inspection, verification, testing, and certification organizations, and its reports are widely recognized in international trade, often serving as one of the documents for negotiation under a letter of credit. Use cases include: the buyer requires assurance that goods meet contract standards, the letter of credit stipulates submission of an SGS certificate, or the importing country requires it for customs clearance. Notes: inspection must be booked in advance, and costs are usually borne by the requesting party; the SGS report is only responsible for the sampled batch, not all goods; if the letter of credit requires an SGS report, ensure the report content strictly matches the LC terms to avoid discrepancies. Difference from other terms: SGS inspection is a third-party inspection, different from factory self-inspection (self-inspection report) or buyer's representative inspection (buyer QC); it is more independent and authoritative but also more expensive.