Trust and safety
How we verify suppliers
Every badge on CompoundList says exactly what we checked and when. Here is what each level means for buyers, which documents we accept and how suppliers can earn each badge.
The four verification levels
Each level builds on the one before. Badges show on company pages, product listings and quotes.
- No badge
Level 0
Registered
A real person controls the account and confirmed their email address.
What we check
- Included: Email address confirmed with a one-time code
- Included: Company name, country, city and business type on the profile
- Included: Accepted our listing rules and controlled substances policy
- Buyers see
- The company page and products, without a trust badge
- Valid
- As long as the account stays in good standing
- Verified
Level 1
Verified
We checked the company's tax or registration number and that the applicant works there.
What we check
- Included: Tax or company registration number checked against the official register, such as GSTIN in India, VAT in the EU or a national company registry
- Included: Business address matches the register
- Included: Applicant confirmed through a business email on the company's own domain or a registration document
- Buyers see
- A green Verified badge with the date of the check on the company page, products and quotes
- Valid
- Rechecked every year with the membership
- Verified
Level 2
Documented
Licences and certificates uploaded and reviewed by our team, with expiry dates tracked.
What we check
- Included: Registration document such as a business licence, certificate of incorporation, GST certificate or IEC
- Included: For manufacturers, a manufacturing document such as a manufacturing licence, drug licence, GMP or WHO-GMP certificate
- Included: Quality and compliance certificates such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, REACH or FSSAI where relevant
- Buyers see
- Approved documents on the company's certificates page and a stronger ranking signal
- Valid
- Each document counts until its expiry date
- Audited
Level 3
Audited
A live video or on-site audit of the plant, equipment, QC lab and storage in the last 12 months.
What we check
- Included: Live walk-through of production areas, equipment and storage with our auditor
- Included: Quality control lab and sample retention checked
- Included: Registration and licence originals shown on camera and matched to the uploaded copies
- Buyers see
- The Audited badge and the audit summary on the company page
- Valid
- 12 months from the audit date
Verification checks come with every paid plan, see yearly plans. Gold and Platinum members also show their plan badge, which is a membership level, not an extra check.
Documents we accept
Upload clear, current copies in your supplier dashboard. Our team reviews them, usually within two working days.
- Included: Business licence or certificate of incorporation
- Included: GST registration certificate (India)
- Included: Importer Exporter Code, IEC (India)
- Included: VAT registration (EU and UK) or EIN confirmation (US)
- Included: Business licence with unified social credit code (China)
- Included: Manufacturing licence or factory licence
- Included: Drug manufacturing licence for APIs and intermediates
- Included: GMP or WHO-GMP certificate
- Included: ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certificates
- Included: REACH registration for the EU market
- Included: FSSAI licence for food ingredients
- Included: Other industry certificates on request
What makes a document acceptable. The company name and address match your profile, the document is current, and every page is readable. Scans and PDFs both work.
Who can see them. Documents you mark as public appear on your certificates page for signed-in buyers. Private documents are seen only by our review team.
The factory video audit
A live walk-through with our auditor that earns the Audited badge for 12 months.
Step 1. Book the audit
Request it from your verification page. We email you within two working days to agree a date.
Step 2. Live video walk-through
About 60 minutes on a video call. You show production, storage and the QC lab, live and unedited.
Step 3. Documents on camera
You show the originals of your registration and licences so we can match them to the uploaded copies.
Step 4. Badge and summary
When the audit passes, the Audited badge and a short audit summary appear on your company page.
What a badge does and does not mean
Verification lowers the risk of dealing with a company you do not know. It does not remove it.
Please keep in mind
- A badge confirms who the company is and what we checked on the date shown. It is not a guarantee of product quality, delivery or payment.
- Profiles marked Unclaimed profile are not managed by the company yet and are never shown as verified.
- Certificates are checked for authenticity and expiry, but each batch still needs its own certificate of analysis.
Before you pay a new supplier
- Included: Check the company on its official register yourself, using the number on its profile
- Included: Ask for a sample and a batch specific certificate of analysis before a large order
- Included: Confirm bank details by phone, using a number from the company's own website
- Included: Avoid paying the full amount in advance to a supplier you have not traded with
Something wrong with a verified supplier? Report it and our compliance team will review the badge.
Questions about trust and verification
What buyers and suppliers ask us most.
How does CompoundList check suppliers?
Are reviews on CompoundList genuine?
How do I report a suspicious listing or supplier?
What should I do before paying a new supplier?
Does a Verified badge mean CompoundList guarantees the supplier?
How do you handle controlled and dangerous chemicals?
How do I correct wrong information about my company or a chemical?
Show buyers what you have proved
Add your tax or registry number, upload your licences and certificates, and book an audit when you are ready. Your badges update as each check is done.