The Certificate of Inspection is an inspection report or report of findings and is required by some importers or importing countries. The export-trader uses such a report in the inspection of goods purchased from a manufacturer. The export-manufacturer also uses such a report in the inspection of its own productions.

In case a Certificate of Inspection is required, the importer may stipulate in the Letter of Credit (LC) to use a specific independent surveyor.

In the case of a foreign government required pre-shipment inspection, which is stipulated in the LC, the report of findings can be in the form of a security label attached with the invoice. The label bears the number and date of the corresponding report of findings issued by the foreign government engaged surveyor.