Desk review

A desk review is a way of certifying a product by examining its documents remotely — formulations, specifications, supplier declarations and label artwork — rather than by traveling to the facility for an on-site audit. An independent reviewer checks the file against a published standard and reaches a certification decision. It suits document-based claims such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and non-GMO.

In depth

In a desk review the manufacturer submits a document file: the product formulation, ingredient specifications, supplier declarations, details of any processing aids, the manufacturing process, and the proposed label. A reviewer assesses each against what the relevant V-Cert mark requires.

The method fits claims that are decided by composition and documentation rather than by watching a process on the floor. Where a gap appears — a missing declaration, an unclear ingredient source — the reviewer asks for it. A gap pauses the clock; it is never an automatic rejection.

A desk review is a form of independent third-party certification. It removes the travel and scheduling of an on-site audit while keeping the decision in human hands. See how a V-Cert review works for the full sequence.

Related terms

• Third-party certification — Third-party certification is verification of a claim by an independent body that is neither the producer making the claim nor the customer relying on it.
• Supplier declaration — A supplier declaration is a written statement from a supplier confirming facts about an ingredient, such as its source, composition or processing.
• Processing aid — A processing aid is a substance used during manufacturing to achieve a technical effect but not intended to remain, as a functional ingredient, in the finished food.

Frequently asked questions