How to Verify a Packaging Supplier's FSC Certificate (Step by Step)

Short answer: Ask the supplier for its FSC licence code (it looks like FSC-C000000), look it up yourself in the public FSC database at search.fsc.org, and check that the status says Valid, the company name matches the business you are paying, the expiry date is after your delivery, and the product scope covers paper packaging. Then make sure your invoice carries the FSC claim and the same code. It takes about five minutes, and it is the check that counts. A PDF copy of a certificate is not proof on its own.

Retailers and distributors in the US and Canada ask more and more often about where packaging materials come from. If your boxes carry the FSC label, the claim has to hold up in an audit. That depends on the printer, not only on the paper mill. This guide shows how to check a packaging supplier before you place the order. If you want the basics of FSC packaging first, see our guide to FSC certified packaging for US & Canada brands.

Why a certificate PDF is not enough

• Certificates change. A certificate can be suspended or terminated after it was issued. The PDF in your inbox still looks valid.

• The name may not match. A trading company can send you the certificate of the factory it buys from. If the company that invoices you is not certified, the chain of custody breaks.

• The scope may be narrow. A certificate can be valid but only cover certain product groups or sites.

The public FSC database is updated by FSC and the certification bodies, so it shows the current situation, not the situation on the day the PDF was made.

Step 1: Get the licence code and certificate code

Ask the supplier for two codes:

• FSC licence code, for example FSC-C157096. This is the code that appears on FSC labels.

• Certificate code from the certification body, for example SAI-COC-004938.

Either code works for the search. A supplier with a real certificate will give you both straight away.

Step 2: Search the public FSC database

Go to search.fsc.org and enter the licence code or certificate code. Searching by the full code gives the most precise result. You can also search by company name, but codes avoid confusion between companies with similar names.

Step 3: Check the five key fields

Open the result and check:

• Status: it should say Valid. Suspended, terminated or expired certificates cannot support an FSC claim.

• Organization name: it should match the legal name of the company that will invoice you.

• Validity dates: the expiry date should be after your delivery date.

• Location: the city and country should match where your packaging is actually produced.

• Product groups / scope: the scope should cover the kind of product you are buying, such as paper and board packaging.

A certificate that is Valid but does not cover your product, or belongs to a different company, does not help your claim.

Step 4: Match the paperwork to the order

The certificate proves the supplier can make FSC products. Your order also has to be produced and sold as FSC:

• Ask for FSC on the quote and on your purchase order.

• Check that the invoice shows the FSC claim and the supplier's certificate code. Keep these invoices on file for retailer questions.

• Use only the label artwork the supplier provides for your order, with its own licence code. Do not reuse label files from another supplier.

Red flags

• The supplier sends a certificate but will not share the licence code.

• The name in the FSC database is a different company from the one on your quote or invoice.

• The status is Suspended or Terminated, or the certificate expires before your delivery.

• The supplier offers to "add the FSC logo" to an order that was not quoted or invoiced as FSC.

• The label artwork shows a licence code that does not belong to the supplier.

Check us the same way

BOYA Printing holds FSC chain-of-custody certification: licence code FSC-C157096, certificate code SAI-COC-004938, valid to 2030-05-12. You can look it up yourself in the FSC database. For FSC orders, our invoices show the FSC claim and our certificate code, and we supply the label artwork for your box with placement guidance.

We print folding cartons, corrugated color boxes and displays in our own factory in Xiaolan, Zhongshan, which we have run since 2003. We also hold ISO 9001:2015 certification (certificate 02424Q32051972R2M, issued by Universal Certification Center (UCC, CNAS-accredited), valid to 2027-08-01).

Quantities and lead times

• MOQ: Standard MOQ 500–1000 pcs per design, depending on specs.

• Lead time: color-box styles typically 7–15 days, depending on specs; for folding cartons, lead time depends on specs.

FAQ

Where do I check an FSC certificate?

In the public FSC database at search.fsc.org. Search by the licence code or certificate code.

What does "Valid" mean in the FSC database?

The certificate is active. You should still check the expiry date, the company name and the product scope.

Is a certificate PDF enough for a retailer audit?

Usually not on its own. Keep a record of the database check and the FSC invoices for your orders.

Can a trading company sell me FSC packaging?

Only if the trading company is FSC certified itself, because every company that owns and sells the material must be certified.

Is BOYA's FSC certificate valid?

Yes. Licence code FSC-C157096 (SAI-COC-004938), valid to 2030-05-12. You can check it at search.fsc.org.

BOYA Printing (byprintings.com) is the English website of Zhongshan Boya Color Printing Co., Ltd., a packaging printer founded on 21 March 2003 in Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan, Guangdong, not in Fujian. Websites: byprintings.com / boyacsys.com.

Request a Quote

Send us your product size, quantity, artwork status and whether you need the FSC label, and we will recommend a structure and quote it. We reply within 1 business day.

• Request a Quote: byprintings.com/contact

• Phone / WhatsApp: +86 189 2812 5102

• Email: denny@byprintings.com

Reviewed by Denny Mo. Last updated: 2026-10.