Commodity scrutiny

If you need to evaluate the cost or quality of the goods you have purchased, you cannot do without the services of a commodity expert who will study its characteristics, examine the features of its operation and use, as well as find out whether the goods comply with the adopted standards, test the integrity of the packaging, and assess whether the cargo was handled and shipped correctly.

Our specialists are certified by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and have obtained relevant certificates of qualification as forensic experts in the following fields:

12.1 "Valuation of Machinery, Equipment, Raw Materials and Consumer Goods"

  1. The objects of commodity scrutiny include consumer goods, equipment and raw materials. Other goods may also be the objects of this type of scrutiny.

A subtype of commodity scrutiny is automotive commodity scrutiny (automotive and shipping commodity scrutiny), the objects of which are wheeled vehicles and their components.

  1. The key tasks of the commodity scrutiny are as follows:
  • determining the cost of commodity products;
  • determining whether goods belong to the classification categories used in the production and trade sector;
  • determining the characteristics of the research objects pursuant to the Ukrainian Classification of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity;
  • determining changes in the quality of commodity products;
  • establishing the method of production of marketable products – industrial or home-made, the manufacturer, the country of origin;
  • determining the compliance of packaging and shipping method, storage conditions and shelf life of commodity products with applicable regulations.
  1. An indicative list of issues to be addressed:
  • What is the cost of the research objects both in Ukraine and abroad?
  • What is the description and purpose of the goods?
  • Do the label claims correspond to the actual product characteristics of the goods?
  • Does the quality of the goods conform to the standards, specifications, and the organoleptic characteristics of the samples provided?
  • What defects does a particular product have? Are these defects significant? Is it possible to sell (use) the product in the presence of the identified defects?
  • What are the terms of acceptance, storage and release of goods?
  • Are the goods labeled and packaged correctly? Does the labeling and packaging of the goods comply with the regulations, technical documentation or samples?
  • Which company manufactured the goods and when (if labeling information or relevant supporting documents are available)?
  • What characteristics do the goods meet according to the Ukrainian Classification of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity?
  • What is the amount of material losses caused to the property owner as a result of damage to the property (by fire, flooding, etc.)?
  • What is the market value of the grain (legumes) as of the date of the contract (current date) in view of its quality indicators?
  1. The scrutiny order (letter of expert engagement) should indicate the essence of the claims or the circumstances of the criminal proceedings in which the scrutiny is ordered.

Together with the scrutiny order (letter of expert engagement), the expert should be provided with the object of study. Bulky items should be examined at their location. If access to the objects is restricted, the agency (person) that ordered the scrutiny (engaged the expert) should enable the expert to examine them. The examination, if required, should be conducted in the presence of the parties to the case (other persons concerned).

The objects of study should be sent to the expert in a packaging that ensures their safety.

If the expert is asked to determine the value of the goods (property), the agency (person) that ordered the scrutiny (engaged the expert) usually indicates the time point for addressing the issue.

  1. The expert may be asked to determine the value of the missing goods (property). In such cases, the scrutiny order (letter of expert engagement) should indicate the absence of the object and specify the case materials on the basis of which the scrutiny should be conducted (invoices, consignment notes, descriptions in statements of claim, victim interrogation reports, etc.)

12.2 "Valuation of Wheeled Vehicles and Determination of the Amount of Losses Caused to the Vehicle Owner"