The official entry point for verifying an FCC ID is the FCC's Equipment Authorization System (which includes OET and SDoC records), searched by the combination of Grant Code and Product Code.
The procedure is straightforward: take the FCC ID from the product label or manual. It consists of two parts—the Grantee Code (usually 3–5 alphanumeric characters) and the Product Code. Enter both segments into the FCC database to retrieve the corresponding authorization record. When checking, focus on four items: whether the grantee name and address match the supplier, whether the equipment class (e.g., digital transmission equipment, unintentional radiator) matches the product's actual function, whether the authorization date precedes the product's market launch, and whether the record is marked as deregistered or in an abnormal status.
The information available in the database includes the grantee, equipment description, frequency range, output power, test laboratory name, and report number. If any field does not match, the certificate cannot be relied upon.
Note that since 2017 the FCC has applied the SDoC procedure to certain devices. Such products have no Grant of Equipment Authorization, only a supplier's declaration of conformity. Therefore, "not found in the FCC ID database" does not by itself mean a certificate is fake—first confirm whether the product is subject to the certification procedure or the SDoC procedure.
CE has no official certificate lookup database because the CE mark is essentially a manufacturer's self-declaration, not a certificate issued by an institution.
Under the EU regulatory framework, the vast majority of products have their conformity assessment completed by the manufacturer, which compiles the technical documentation, signs the EU Declaration of Conformity, and affixes the CE mark itself. There is no "unified EU issuing authority" in this process, and naturally no central database for public search.
Only a few high-risk categories (such as certain medical devices, pressure equipment, and gas appliances) require involvement of a Notified Body, which issues an NB certificate. The identity of the Notified Body can be verified in the EU NANDO system, and a letter can be sent to that body to confirm whether the certificate number actually exists.
The correct approach to verifying CE is therefore: obtain the complete original DoC, check the harmonized standards cited therein, the manufacturer's name and address, the product model, the signatory's title, and the signing date, then confirm whether the cited standards correspond to the product category. A wrong standard number on the DoC, or a statement that merely says "complies with CE requirements" without listing specific directives, are obvious red flags.
The entry point for CCC certificate lookup is the CNCA National Public Service Platform for Certification and Accreditation Information, searched by certificate number or company name.
Compare each item: certificate number, certified organization name, production enterprise name and address, product name and model/specification, certification standard, certificate status (valid, suspended, cancelled, revoked), and validity period. Certificate status is the item most easily overlooked—many companies hold a historical certificate that has been suspended or cancelled; the image is real, but the status is invalid.
Also note the boundaries of the CCC catalogue: whether the product falls within the compulsory certification catalogue and whether the self-declaration evaluation method applies both affect the judgment of whether the certificate should exist at all. A CCC certificate presented for a product outside the catalogue is itself a red flag.
The entry point for UL certification lookup is the UL Product iQ database, searchable by UL File Number, product category, or company name.
The key checks are whether the file number corresponds to the product category and whether the certificate holder (Listee) matches the actual shipper. UL authorizations take different forms—Listing, Recognized Component, Classification—with different mark styles and different scopes of application. Passing off a Recognized Component mark as a complete-product Listing is a common misleading tactic.
| Certification Type | Official Lookup Entry | Key Fields to Verify | Official Certificate Database |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCC | FCC Equipment Authorization System (by Grant Code + Product Code) | Grantee, equipment class, authorization date, test laboratory | Yes, only for devices under the certification procedure |
| CE | No central database; NB certificates via NANDO | Directives, harmonized standards, signatory, date in the DoC | No |
| CCC | National Public Service Platform for Certification and Accreditation Information | Certificate number, company name, model, certificate status | Yes |
| UL | UL Product iQ | UL file number, product category, certificate holder | Yes |
Forged certificates usually reveal flaws in the details. If any two of the following features appear, be highly vigilant.
Exporting companies should make certificate verification a fixed step before shipment, rather than something done only when customs or a customer raises doubts.
The recommended process: request the certificate number and full name of the issuing body from the supplier, run a check in the official database first, and archive the query result page; for CE products, also request the original DoC and a list of technical documentation; for new suppliers, verify whether the certificate holder and the actual manufacturer are the same entity. Contracts should include a certificate authenticity warranty clause and a breach compensation clause to preserve the basis for pursuing liability.
If a forged certificate is discovered, report it to the certification body and the market supervision authorities; where importing-country compliance is involved, inform the overseas customer and local regulator at the same time to avoid the goods being detained after arrival at port.
For reference, the volume of authorization records handled by a qualified third-party laboratory in routine testing is considerable: as of 2026-10-25, the company's relevant database contained 26,862 companies (16,734 of them in China), 40,930 products, 6,103 FCC certificates, and 347 testing laboratories; in the past 30 days, 1,156 new certificates were issued and 695 new companies were added. Such data can be used to judge whether a supplier's claimed certification scale deviates significantly from the industry norm.
Not necessarily. Devices using the SDoC procedure do not generate a Grant record and are therefore not in the FCC ID database at all. First confirm whether the product is subject to the certification procedure or the SDoC procedure, then judge the lookup result.
CE has no official certificate database, so an image cannot be directly authenticated. Request the complete original DoC and check the directives, harmonized standards, manufacturer information, and signatory; if a Notified Body is involved, verify the body's identity in the NANDO system and send a letter to confirm the certificate number.
No, you cannot ship on the basis of a valid certificate. During suspension the certificate has no probative effect; confirm the reason for suspension and the restoration date with the certificate holder before deciding on shipping arrangements.
It may be normal, or it may be a problem. UL permits OEM manufacturing and authorized use, but there must be a written authorization chain. Request the authorization documents to confirm that the supplier has the right to use that UL file number and mark on the product.
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