Service Background

Wood Chip Inspection is the process of assessing the conformity of wood chips against contractual specifications or applicable technical standards through observation, measurement, and evaluation of testing results.

A wood chip inspection certificate serves as objective evidence of the seller’s or supplier’s fulfillment of contractual or Letter of Credit (L/C) obligations, while also constituting a critical basis for export customs clearance procedures.

Vinacontrol’s inspection services empower enterprises to:

✔ Accurately determine the quantity and quality of woodchips at key points of custody transfer (at ports, warehouses, yards, or on transport vessels).

✔ Assess critical technical parameters, such as moisture content, size distribution, impurities, and composition, in strict accordance with contractual requirements or applicable standards.

✔ Mitigate risks in commercial transactions and minimize potential disputes between buyers and sellers.

✔ Provide independent and objective inspection certificates with legal validity and broad acceptance in international trade.

✔ Meet the requirements of partners, shipping lines, and importing markets, ensuring shipments comply with export conditions.

Scope of Services

✔ Inspection of Green Metric Ton (GMT): Determining the mass of woodchips at their actual moisture content, measured in metric tons.

✔ Inspection of Bone-Dry Metric Ton (BDMT): Determining the mass of woodchips calculated at 0% (zero) moisture content, measured in metric tons.

✔ Inspection of Specifications and Quality: Involves determining the mass percentage of various chip sizes and impurity levels, followed by a compliance audit against the provisions of the signed Contract or L/C.

GMT inspection primarily serves the calculation of freight charges and stevedoring costs, whereas BDMT and quality/specification inspections form the fundamental basis for the commercial settlement of the goods.

Applicable Standards

Vinacontrol’s inspection services are conducted in accordance with stringent technical standards:

✔ GMT determination: Conducted using Draft Survey methods for bulk cargo on vessels or high-precision bridge scales.

✔ BDMT determination: Performed in ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories using oven-drying methods to determine actual moisture content and convert it to a 0% moisture basis.

✔ Size distribution & impurity analysis: Compliant with SCAN standards (Nordic countries), ASTM standards (United States), or specific requirements stipulated in the L/C between buyer and seller.

Service Process

Step 1: Sampling at Port of Loading
→ Ensure representativeness of the consignment, in compliance with strict sampling procedures and methods

Step 2: Laboratory Analysis
→ Samples are analyzed in Vinacontrol’s ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories, utilizing independent monitoring technologies (CCTV, automated digital weighing, data management systems) to ensure accuracy and objectivity

Step 3: Delivery Supervision

Step 4: Issuance of Inspection Certificate
→ Vinacontrol’s inspection certificate is objective, transparent, and legally valid - protecting the interests of both buyers and sellers, widely accepted in international trade, and recognized for customs clearance purposes.