The inspection of commodities in international trade is mainly undertaken by non-governmental organizations, and the non-governmental commodity inspection organs have the legal status of notarial institutions.

The more famous ones are: Geneva general identification company (SGS), Japan overseas cargo inspection company (OMIC), American insurer Laboratory (UL), British Lloyd's notarization office (Lloyd 1, s Surveyor), French Classification Society (B.V) and Hongkong Tianxiang notarization inspection.

China's import and export commodity inspection is mainly undertaken by the official "People's Republic of China entry exit inspection and Quarantine Bureau" and its branches. In addition, there are various official inspection institutions specializing in animals and plants, food, medicine, ships and measuring instruments.

　　1980年成立的中國進(jìn)出口商品檢驗(yàn)總公司（CCIC）及其分公司，是接受國家委托從事進(jìn)出口商品檢驗(yàn)的具有法人資格的公司。我國商檢機(jī)構(gòu)和一些國外檢驗(yàn)機(jī)構(gòu)建立了委托代理關(guān)系（如SGS）或合資檢驗(yàn)機(jī)構(gòu)（如OMIC）。外國檢驗(yàn)機(jī)構(gòu)經(jīng)批準(zhǔn)也可在我國設(shè)立分支機(jī)構(gòu)，在指定范圍內(nèi)接受進(jìn)出口商品檢驗(yàn)和鑒定業(yè)務(wù)。