This article explains what certification bodies are in ChemCheck, how to assign them to a product, and what happens after assignment.

01/ Introduction

Formulators can assign a certification body directly in the platform UI. Once assigned, the product appears immediately in the CB's Approvals panel, with no prior action required from the CB.

Certification bodies (CBs) are the organisations that review ChemCheck products and assign ZDHC MRSL and Chemicals-to-Zero certifications. You can assign a CB to your product at the point of product creation or at any time afterwards from the product detail page. Assigning a CB automatically moves the product into Under Review status, signalling that it is awaiting their assessment.

Note: Assigning a certification body does not automatically notify them. After assigning, contact the certification body directly to let them know the product is ready for review.

02/ Assigning certification bodies when creating a product

1. In the product creation form, scroll to the Certification bodies section.
2. Open the dropdown and select one or more certification bodies.
3. Complete the rest of the form and click Save. The product is created with an Under Review status.

03/ Assigning or changing certification bodies after creation

1. Open the product from your product portfolio.
2. Click the Certificates tab on the product detail page.
3. Click Manage assignments. A modal opens showing all currently assigned certification bodies.
4. Add or remove certification bodies as needed.
5. Click Save to confirm the changes.

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Alt text: Screenshot of the Manage Assignments modal in the Certificates tab.

04/ What happens after a CB is assigned?

Once a certification body is assigned:

• The product status changes to Under Review.
• The CB can see the product in their Approvals panel and begin their review process.
• The assigned CB appears in the Certificates tab, showing their name, the date they were assigned, and their current review status.

A product can be assigned to multiple certification bodies simultaneously. Each CB reviews the product independently.

05/ What does the Certificates tab show?

The Certificates tab on the product detail page shows all assigned certification bodies and their review status:

06/ What if a certification body declines the product?

If a CB declines a product, the declined status is shown for that CB in the Certificates tab. The product's overall status depends on the outcome across all assigned CBs — if at least one CB has accepted, the product status remains Accepted.

If all assigned CBs have declined and you want to re-initiate a review, remove the CB's assignment and re-assign them. The product will return to Under Review for that CB. It is also recommended to contact the CB directly to understand the reason for the decline before reassigning.

If all assigned CBs have declined and none have accepted, the product's overall status becomes Not Accepted.

07/ Tips & Notes

Note: Currently, products can be edited regardless of status — including while Under Review. This behaviour may change in a future release. If a CB is reviewing your product, avoid making changes to it without notifying them first.

Tip: If you work with multiple certification bodies for different markets, you can assign all of them at once. Each CB's review and outcome is tracked independently.