SGS

SGS SA, commonly known as SGS, is a Swiss multinational corporation that provides inspection, verification, testing, and certification services. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it operates through a global network of offices and laboratories, serving clients across a wide range of industries to help ensure quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.

The company originated in 1878 as Société Générale de Surveillance, established to inspect and verify the condition and quantity of goods in transit, particularly for rail shipments. Over time, SGS expanded beyond inspection into testing, verification, and certification, adopting the SGS acronym as a unified brand. It grew into a global leader in the field, expanding its services to meet evolving standards and industry demands.

SGS serves sectors including agriculture, automotive, consumer goods, life sciences, mining, oil and gas, chemicals, energy, environmental services, and construction. Its offerings include quality and safety testing, product certification, supplier and factory audits, environmental and social governance assessments, and conformity assessment against international standards such as ISO, GMP, and HACCP. The company also provides digital tools and data analytics to support risk management, compliance, and supply chain transparency.

As a publicly traded company on the SIX Swiss Exchange, SGS emphasizes reliability, independence, and technical competence in its operations. The organization emphasizes accreditations, global reach, and collaboration with regulators and industry bodies to help clients demonstrate conformity with applicable requirements, manage risk, and foster trust in products and services worldwide.