Table of Contents
Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 44/2026
Key takeaways
“SGS standard” is not actually a technical standard. SGS is the name of an independent Swiss inspection, testing and certification organisation; “passed SGS” means the product has been tested or certified by the SGS group against a specific standard, and the value lies in that standard and the results stated in the report.
In logistics, alongside 3 other standards (AAR, MSDS, ISO 9001), an SGS report is often requested when buying packaging supplies such as dunnage bags, because it is third-party evidence of strength and materials. This article explains who SGS is, what an SGS report for dunnage bags usually contains, how to read the report, and how to verify whether a report is genuine on the SGS system.
I am Le Van Thang, and I have worked in packaging supplies at ICD Vietnam since 2011. The question I am asked most is “does this bag have SGS”; the question to ask is “which criteria did SGS test, on which bag code, and with what result”.
What is SGS?
SGS is short for Societe Generale de Surveillance, a multinational group headquartered in Switzerland. Founded in 1878, initially to inspect export grain at the port of Rouen, SGS is now one of the largest organisations in the world for inspection, testing and certification. According to the company’s own overview page, SGS has more than 100,000 staff and more than 2,500 laboratories and facilities in 115 countries. SGS has provided services in Vietnam since 1989.
SGS operates as an independent third party. In international trade, when buyer and seller are far apart, this third party confirms whether the goods actually match the contract: right quantity, right specification, meeting technical criteria. The laboratory network lets SGS do everything from chemical composition analysis to mechanical strength testing of packaging materials.
When people say “the product passed the SGS standard”, it is really one of three kinds of document below, and each has a different value:
| Document type | What SGS does | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Test report | Tests a sample using the method stated in the report | Speaks only about that sample, at the time of testing |
| Inspection | Checks a specific shipment, usually before delivery | That shipment matches the quantity and specification in the contract |
| Certification | Issues a certificate for a management system or a product against a standard | Has a validity period, reassessed periodically |
The meaning of SGS in logistics and the supply chain
In logistics, goods pass through many countries with different rules, so independent evidence of quality has real value. But it is important to understand where that value lies.
Pre-shipment inspection and customs clearance
Some importing countries apply pre-shipment inspection programmes, under which a shipment must be checked by an inspection organisation in the exporting country. The World Trade Organization has its own Agreement on Preshipment Inspection governing these programmes. SGS is one of the organisations that provides this service.
Safety of packaging supplies
Logistics is not just transport but also protecting goods. Packaging supplies such as dunnage bags keep the load from shifting in the container. For dunnage bags, the mechanical tests commonly found in independent laboratory reports are:
- Tensile test: the breaking force of the outer shell material (Kraft paper or woven PP), in the warp and weft directions.
- Drop test: simulates a bag or package being dropped or knocked during loading and unloading.
- Vibration test: an inflated bag under continuous vibration as on a truck or ship, checking whether it keeps its pressure and stays intact.
- Burst pressure and pressure holding tests of the liner.
A passing test report shows the sample withstood the test conditions. It does not guarantee that every later lot is the same as the sample, and it does not replace inflating to the right pressure and blocking the right void. In an insurance dispute, a test report is one part of the file showing the blocking material was suitable, together with the packing plan and photos taken during packing.
Building trust with B2B customers
For B2B customers, a third-party report reduces the need to check every lot themselves. Customers often prefer suppliers who can send a clear report for the right product code, because it removes the risk of goods that are off specification or materials of unknown origin. This trust is only worth something when the report is genuine and refers to the right product, so the next section covers how to check.
How to read an SGS report for dunnage bags
Before trusting a report, read five points:
- Sample name and description: does it match the bag code, size and material you plan to buy.
- Sample receipt date and issue date: how many years old is the report.
- Test method: which standard, and what temperature and humidity conditions.
- Results and thresholds: the measured figure and the requirement; “Pass” against which threshold.
- Issuing office: which SGS office, and the report number.
How to verify that an SGS report or certificate is genuine
SGS provides a free service to check documents carrying the SGS brand. There are three ways, depending on the document type:
- Management system or process certificate: look it up in the Certified Client Directory on sgs.com by certificate number, or by company name and location, or scan the QR code if there is one.
- Electronic PDF test report: newer SGS reports carry a digital signature. Open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 10.0 or later) to see a valid signature icon; if the report has been inserted into another document, the digital signature becomes invalid.
- Other cases: send the complete document through the Verify SGS Documents form on sgs.com so SGS can check it.
According to SGS guidance, a report number alone is not enough to verify the content, and SGS does not verify by phone. You need the complete report, with no missing pages and not masked or compressed. Some SGS reports carry a QR code for online checking.
SGS and dunnage bags at ICD Vietnam
The ICD Vietnam dunnage bag catalogue lists AAR, SGS and MSDS documents for dunnage bags, together with drop, pull and vibration tests. Checking by the three components of the bag helps you know which report to ask for:
Gas-holding liner: the PA/PE film decides how long the bag keeps its air. The figure to look at is the pressure holding result and, if the customer requires it, the heavy metal test result of the material. No film is perfectly leak-proof; the difference lies in the rate of pressure loss.
Outer shell: for both Kraft paper and woven PP, the figures to look at are warp and weft breaking force, and the burst pressure of the whole bag. These are the numbers that show whether the bag can withstand the pressing force of heavy cargo.
Inflation valve: the valve has a self-sealing mechanism when the gun is removed and a screw cap for extra locking. A valve that leaks after the nozzle is removed is a common fault in cheap bags; the simplest check is to inflate a few sample bags, leave them overnight and look at the firmness again.
Investing in supplies with clear test evidence is part of risk management. But evidence is only useful when you read it: right product code, recent, with figures, and verifiable.
Frequently asked questions
Is SGS a standard?
No. SGS is the name of an inspection, testing and certification organisation. “Passed SGS” means the product has been tested or certified by SGS against a specific standard stated in the report or certificate.
Does an SGS report for dunnage bags help cargo clear customs faster?
Not directly. Pre-shipment inspection is a requirement tied to the shipment and the importing country’s rules. A dunnage bag report shows the blocking material has been tested and does not replace customs documents.
How do I check that an SGS report is genuine?
Open the PDF report in Adobe Acrobat Reader to check the digital signature, look the certificate up in the Certified Client Directory, or send the complete copy through the Verify SGS Documents form on sgs.com. A report number alone is not enough to verify.
How often should an SGS report be redone?
A test report has no general expiry date; it reflects the sample at the time of testing. When the manufacturer changes material, valve or process, the old report no longer represents the product. Many customers ask for a report within 1-2 years, but that is each customer’s own requirement, not an SGS rule.
Contact
ICD Vietnam supplies Kraft paper dunnage bags, woven PP bags and inflation guns, with technical documents by code. Price: contact for a quote.
ICD Vietnam Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- North Vietnam (Hanoi warehouse): 3rd Floor, Thang Long A1 Building, Thon Bau, Thien Loc Commune, Hanoi - 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186 / 090 5859 186.
- Southern workshop: 551/212 Le Van Khuong Street, Tan Thoi Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City - 098 6784 186.
- Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn. Zalo: Chat Zalo.
References
- The role of SGS as an independent certification body in quality inspection - SGS, Company overview (sgs.com/en/our-company/about-sgs).
- SGS, Verify SGS Documents and Certified Client Directory (sgs.com).
- SGS TICMall, Understand How to Verify SGS Documents FAQ (2026).
- WTO, Agreement on Preshipment Inspection.
- ICD Vietnam dunnage bag catalogue.
