A Certificate of Conformity (COC) is an official document whose mission is to prove that the product meets all regulatory requirements in force in the destination to which it is exported, and it is sometimes called a Certificate of Compliance or a Certificate of Conformity.

Many customers often ask what a certificate of conformity is, what is the desired benefit from it, and how to obtain it. Therefore, we have singled out this article to answer these questions, as we will explain what a certificate of conformity is, what is the purpose of its use, what it includes, and its importance. to import consumer goods.

What is a Certificate of Conformity (COC)?

A Certificate of Conformity (COC), also called a Certificate of Compliance, is a document that proves that a product or service that has been exported or agreed upon meets the requirements of specific standards, such as safety and quality standards, or certain operating standards

These standards may be determined by a particular regulatory body, industry association, or internal standards specific to the importing company or that will use the product or service.

In addition, this document may contain the organization's rules for selling a product or service, or for obtaining a license or operating permit for them from the competent authorities.

The data included in the certificate of conformity must include the name and contact information of the issuing authority, as well as the name of the product or service approved, the date of the certificate, and a statement that the product or service meets the requirements of the relevant standards.

The buyer usually requests a Certificate of Conformity (COC) from his supplier when he wants to be sure that the product, he has obtained meets the agreed standards and specifications.

Benefits of obtaining a Certificate of Conformity

There are several benefits when obtaining a Certificate of Conformity, including:

• It is evident that the product meets all required safety and quality standards.
• It can be used as a marketing tool, letting potential customers know that the product is safe and of high quality.
• It can help speed up the import/export process, as products that have a certificate of conformity are given priority as opposed to products that don't.
• It can help give manufacturers a competitive advantage over others that don't have a certificate of conformity for their products.

 

Why is the Certificate of Conformity important?

The reason that gives the Certificate of Conformity (COC) special importance is that it certifies that the product or service meets all the regulatory requirements in force in the place to which it is exported, and this certificate is required to sell the product in many markets around the world and without it, the product is refused to be traded.

An example of the importance of Certification of Conformity, airlines purchase fan blades for their aircraft engines, so these cast blades must be x-rayed to ensure there are no visible voids or cracks.

Any problem with the fan blades can lead to a malfunction that may result in loss of life, therefore, a Certificate of Conformity (where the blade manufacturer writes that the blades comply with specified checklists) must be provided.

Who can issue a COC Certificate of Conformity?

The certificate of conformity can be issued by one of two parties, the first party is the laboratory in which the product tests were conducted, and the second party is the manufacturer.

Products that often need a certificate of conformity

Not all products need a certificate of conformity, but there are some of the most common products that must have a certificate of conformity, namely:

Machinery, products used in construction, toys, medical equipment, gas appliances, energy products, elevators, water boilers, and much more.

Countries requesting a COC Certificate of Conformity

Many countries around the world have implemented and drafted a number of mandatory regulations for the goods they import, and the Certificate of Conformity differs in some countries in terms of the name somewhat, but they are similar in importance and the task that it performs. In the end, they are all COC Certificates of Conformity.

Such as Nigeria (called SONCAP Certificate), Kuwait (TER; TIR), Russia (GOST-R), Saudi Arabia (SASO CoC), and Egypt (called Inspection Certificate)

  In Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Algeria, Uganda, Qatar, Bangladesh, etc., it is called COC.