The four statuses
The verification model on the manufacturer sub-site defines four statuses. A single profile can hold fields at different levels, and each is labelled where it appears. The same four levels apply to product records on this sub-site.
| Status | What it means | How it is established | How it is presented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verified | A reliable source, or on-site / document verification, supports the field. | Independent source, or our own on-site inspection or document review. | Stated as a supported fact, with the source noted. |
| Supplier Reported | The value was provided by the supplier about themselves. | Supplier statement only — email, form, datasheet, website. | Labelled as self-reported; never stated as a verified fact. |
| Third-Party Verified | Independent third-party testing or certification supports the field. | Accredited lab report or certification body evidence. | Stated as third-party supported, with the evidence type noted. |
| Unverified | The field has not yet been checked against any source. | No verification performed yet. | Shown as unconfirmed and not relied upon. |
Why "supplier reported" is not a verified fact
Self-reported data is useful — it tells a buyer what a supplier claims and which claims are worth testing — but it is also the easiest thing in cross-border sourcing to get wrong. A monthly tonnage, a certification code or an export-market list reads like a fact the moment it appears without a label. Charcoal Hub therefore labels self-reported values explicitly and never silently upgrades them by proximity to verified fields.
How this maps to product records
On this sub-site, a product record carries a verification_status, a data_source and a last_verified date. A record whose status is supplier-declared is published for traceability with its source listed, and is presented as not independently verified. It is a candidate to be tested, not a basis for a purchase commitment on its own.
What a buyer should do with a labelled value
- Treat unverified and supplier-declared as prompts to request evidence, not to proceed.
- For third-party verified, ask to see the underlying report and its report number, laboratory and date.
- For verified, confirm which source or inspection supports the field before relying on it commercially.