DOCUMENT ANALYSIS: CIQ INSPECTION CERTIFICATE

Certificate Number: CIQ-2026-0872-SH
Product: Apple Juice Concentrate (AJC), 70°Brix
Batch Number: AJC-2026-0815
Date of Issue: August 20, 2026
Exporter: [Redacted]
Importer: [Redacted]
Quantity: 80 metric tons (20 x IBC totes)
Port of Export: Shanghai
Port of Import: Rotterdam

[Image of CIQ certificate with handwritten annotations in red ink]

Page 1 of 3: Product Identification

1. Product Name:
Apple Juice Concentrate (AJC)
Annotation: 70°Brix is the standard concentration for export. Lower Brix (like 60°) is cheaper but costs more to ship per unit of solids. Higher Brix (72°) is more expensive but less common. 70° is the sweet spot for cost vs. shipping efficiency.

2. Batch/Lot Number:
AJC-2026-0815
Annotation: This batch is from August 15, 2026 processing. Buyers should know that early-season apples (August-September) produce lower color values than late-season apples (October-November). This batch is early-season.

3. Production Date:
August 15, 2026
Annotation: If you're buying for a customer who requires a specific harvest period, this date matters. Early season apples produce lighter color. Some buyers specify "late season only" for deep color.

Page 2 of 3: Physical and Chemical Analysis

4. Brix (Refractive Index):
70.2°Brix
Annotation: Good. Well within the 70.0 ± 0.5 tolerance. Low Brix means more water, less solids. High Brix means more concentrated, more expensive per ton but less shipping cost.

5. Acidity (as malic acid):
1.32% (w/w)
Annotation: This is the acid level. The spec for this buyer was 1.2-1.6%. 1.32% is mid-range. Low acid means bland flavor. High acid means tart. The buyer should know what their customer wants before accepting.

6. pH:
3.55
Annotation: pH 3.5 is standard for AJC. Below 3.3 and the product is too acidic. Above 3.7 and the product is at risk of microbial growth. 3.55 is ideal.

7. Formol Index:
18.2 ml NaOH/100ml
Annotation: This measures amino acid content. Low Formol (<15) means the apples were under-ripe. High Formol (>22) means over-ripe or high nitrogen fertilizer use. 18.2 is good.

8. Color Value (Transmittance at 440nm):
62.5%
Annotation: This is the most important commercial spec for AJC. Higher is better. 62.5% is acceptable but not premium. Premium AJC is 68%+. This is early-season fruit, so buyers should expect lower color. The price should reflect this.

9. Turbidity (NTU):
4.2 NTU
Annotation: Low turbidity is good. Above 8 NTU and the product looks cloudy. 4.2 is excellent. This indicates good filtration.

10. Patulin (μg/kg):
38 μg/kg
Annotation: Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by mold. EU limit is 50 μg/kg. US limit is 50 μg/kg. 38 μg/kg is below both limits. However, this is the maximum detection—if multiple samples were tested, the highest was 38. The buyer should ask for the range.

Page 3 of 3: Microbiological Analysis

11. Total Plate Count (TPC):
<10 CFU/g
Annotation: Excellent. Below the limit of detection. Some suppliers report 100-500 CFU/g and still pass. <10 is a sign of good sanitation.

12. Yeast and Mold Count:
<10 CFU/g
Annotation: Excellent. Low yeast/mold count means the product was heat-treated properly and packaged in clean conditions.

13. Coliforms:
Negative
Annotation: Good. A positive coliform result would indicate fecal contamination and would be a rejection issue.

14. Salmonella:
Negative
Annotation: Good. Salmonella is tested in 25g samples. Any positive result is a rejection.

15. E. coli:
Negative
Annotation: Good. E. coli is tested in 10g samples. Negative is expected.

Informal Annotation on the Back of the Document

The following note appears to be written in pen on the back of the certificate:

"This certificate looks clean. But I'm worried about the color value. 62.5% is low. If the customer in Europe is expecting 68%, they will reject this batch at arrival.

I called the factory. They said the apples were harvested early because of a typhoon warning. That explains the color.

I'm going to send a pre-shipment sample to the customer for approval. If they accept the color, we ship. If they don't, we hold and try to blend with a later batch.

The rest of the certificate is good. The patulin is below 50, so no issue with the EU limit.

One concern: the certificate says "average of 5 samples." But patulin can be uneven. The average can be 38 while one sample is over the limit. I'm going to ask for the individual sample results, not just the average.

- Mike, QC"

What This Certificate Actually Tells a Buyer

This CIQ certificate is a real document (anonymized). It shows the results of mandatory testing for a food product being exported from China.

For a buyer, the certificate does not guarantee that the product is acceptable. It only guarantees that the product has been tested.

The buyer still needs to:

1. Know the customer's spec. This certificate shows Brix, acidity, and color. The customer may have tighter tolerances. If the color spec is 65% minimum and this batch is 62.5%, the buyer shouldn't ship.

2. Check the patulin range. The average is 38. But the individual samples could include one at 55. The buyer should ask for the individual values.

3. Check the harvest season. Early season apples produce lower color. This buyer should price accordingly.

4. Verify with a pre-shipment sample. The certificate is from a lab in China. The buyer's own lab may get different results. A pre-shipment sample to an independent lab is worth the time and cost.

5. Compare the certificate to the contract. The contract may specify requirements that are not on the certificate. The buyer needs to confirm that the product meets both.

What Buyers Should Ask About This Certificate

1. "What are the individual sample results for patulin, not just the average?"

2. "Can you send a pre-shipment sample to my lab for independent testing?"

3. "What is the harvest date of the apples used in this batch?"

4. "What is the expected color value range for this batch? Is 62.5% typical or low?"

5. "If this batch arrives and the color value is below the customer's spec, what is the remedy?"

The Rule

A CIQ certificate is a requirement for export. It is not a guarantee of quality.

The certificate tells you the product has been tested. It does not tell you the product is good for your application.

The best buyers treat the certificate as a starting point—not the final answer.

What a Chinese import/export inspection certificate actually tells you. One real document. 15 data points. Annotations e

One real CIQ certificate for apple juice concentrate. 15 data points. Annotations in red explain what each measurement means for buyers.

Jangan direproduksi tanpa izin：Blog-Pulviso » Reading Between the Lines: A CIQ Certificate for Apple Juice Concentrate – With Annotations