Inspection Report

An Inspection Report is a written document issued by a third-party inspection agency or an inspector recognized by both buyer and seller in foreign trade, used to certify whether the quality, quantity, packaging, etc. of goods before shipment or after arrival comply with contract or letter of credit requirements. It is commonly used in FOB, CIF and other transactions. Buyers often require sellers to provide inspection reports issued by SGS, BV, CCIC or other agencies as a basis for payment or customs clearance. Use cases include: letter of credit negotiation, customs clearance, claims, arbitration, etc. Notes: 1) The report must be issued by the inspection agency designated in the letter of credit, otherwise payment may be refused; 2) Inspection standards should be consistent with the contract, such as ISO, GB, ASTM, etc.; 3) The report date should be before shipment and no later than the latest shipment date specified in the letter of credit; 4) Pay attention to the validity period of the report and whether the original is required. Difference from 'Inspection Certificate': An inspection report focuses on quality data, while an inspection certificate is more formal and often used for statutory inspection or inter-governmental agreements; it differs from a 'Mill Test Certificate', which is issued by the manufacturer, not a third party.