What is the difference between a scope certificate and a TC?
| — | Scope certificate (SC) | Transaction certificate (TC) |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | A company: its sites, processes and the products it is certified for | One shipment of certified goods from a seller to a buyer |
| Issued by | The company's certification body | The seller's certification body |
| How often | Renewed when the certification is renewed | A new one for each shipment |
| What it proves | The company is allowed to sell certified goods | This delivery was certified goods |
| Check it on | GOTS public database | The issuing certification body (some offer an online check) |
A buyer usually needs both: your scope certificate to show you are certified, and a TC to show the fabric they received is.
Why do buyers ask for a TC with every shipment?
A scope certificate alone doesn't prove that a particular delivery was organic. The TC links the shipment to the certified chain, so the buyer's own certification body can account for the organic fibre they bought and sold.
Buyers also check TCs more carefully since India's organic-cotton certificate fraud, in which around 20,000 tonnes were certified with fake transaction certificates (confirmed by the Ministry of Commerce in November 2024).
What should I check on a TC?
- The seller and buyer names match the companies in the deal.
- The products, quantities and shipment details match your invoice or delivery challan.
- It refers to the seller's scope certificate, and that scope certificate is valid.
- It was issued by a certification body accredited for GOTS.
- Any QR code or link on it opens the certification body's own website, not a look-alike domain.
If a QR code on a certificate leads to a site you don't recognise, check the certificate directly with the certification body before you accept it.
How do I get a TC for my shipment?
As the seller, you request it from your own certification body after the shipment, with the sales documents it asks for. You can only get a TC for goods within your scope certificate, and your supplier's goods must have come with their own TCs. Your certification body can tell you exactly what it needs and how long it takes.
Do other standards use transaction certificates?
Yes. Textile Exchange standards, such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Organic Content Standard (OCS), also use scope certificates and transaction certificates. Their certified companies can be looked up on the Textile Exchange website.
How does TexPass help?
Upload the TC to the passport for that lot, next to your scope certificate, and the buyer gets both on one link. For a fee, a person at TexPass checks the TC with the registry or the certification body and the passport shows Verified with the date. See how verification works, how TexPass works and prices.
Sources
We link to the official sites so you can check the details yourself. Rules and standards change, so check the source before you rely on them.
- GOTS — Global Organic Textile StandardThe standard and its rules on certification and transaction certificates.
- GOTS — certified suppliers databaseCheck a seller's GOTS scope certificate.
- Textile Exchange — find a certified companyCheck GRS, RCS and OCS certified companies.
General information, not legal advice. Standards and regulations change; check the official source or ask your buyer what they need. See our disclaimer.