Certification
Portcullis Certification
An annual, evidence-based assessment showing that a freight business has defined controls in place against criminal infiltration through people, counterparties and communications.
Initial enquiries are reviewed before any assessment scope is agreed.
Portcullis
This is to certify that
Your Company Ltd
has been assessed against the Portcullis Standard and is
Portcullis Certified
Scope: Freight forwarding and cargo agency operations
- Certificate
- PCS-GB-000000
- Valid from
- Issue date
- Valid until
- 12 months from issue
Verify at cargoportcullis.com/verify
Membership and certification
They work together, but they are different things.
Membership provides capability.
Membership
Gives your business Portcullis methods, guidance and support to build and strengthen its controls. Membership does not by itself confer certified status.
Certification provides proof.
Certification
An assessment of evidence against the Portcullis Standard. Successful organisations are listed on the public register and may use the Portcullis Certified mark.
Certification levels
Portcullis Certified
AvailableAssessment against all nine domains of the Portcullis Standard, including every critical control.
Portcullis Certified Plus
PlannedA future level for organisations that show mature, tested controls and continuous improvement. Criteria will be published before it opens.
Who can apply
Certification is designed for organisations that handle, arrange or influence the movement of freight.
- Freight forwarders and cargo agents
- Logistics operators and hauliers
- Customs agents and brokers
- Warehouse and handling operators with commercial freight relationships
The applying organisation must nominate an active director or equivalent senior person as accountable owner.
Scope
Each certificate states its scope: the legal entity, the sites and the activities assessed. The scope is shown on the public register so that anyone relying on the certificate can see exactly what it covers.
How certification works
Timescales depend on organisation size, assessment readiness and corrective actions.
- 1
Apply
Confirm scope, sites and a named senior contact.
- 2
Assess
Evidence reviewed against the Portcullis Standard.
- 3
Improve
Corrective action on any non-conformities.
- 4
Certify
Certificate issued and listed on the public register.
- 5
Maintain
Controls kept in place and renewed every year.
- 01
Application
You confirm the legal entity, sites, activities and accountable owner. We agree the scope and the assessment plan.
- 02
Assessment
A Portcullis assessor reviews your evidence against each domain of the Standard, through document review and interviews with key people.
- 03
Evidence
Evidence may include policies, training records, due-diligence records, reporting logs and examples of checks carried out. Declarations alone are not enough.
- 04
Critical controls
Some controls are critical to the Standard. A certificate cannot be issued while any critical control is unmet.
- 05
Non-conformities
Where a control is not met, you receive a written non-conformity describing the gap and the evidence needed to close it.
- 06
Corrective action
You have an agreed period to put corrective action in place. Once the evidence is accepted, certification can be issued.
Validity and status
Certification is time-limited and its status is public, so it always reflects the current position.
- ACTIVE
12-month validity
A certificate is valid for 12 months from issue.
- ACTIVE
Annual renewal
A renewal assessment is required each year to remain certified.
- SUSPENDED
Suspension
Certification may be suspended if a serious concern arises or corrective action is overdue.
- EXPIRED
Expiry
A certificate that is not renewed expires on its end date.
- WITHDRAWN
Withdrawal
Certification may be withdrawn for serious or repeated failure to meet the Standard, or misuse of the mark.
Public verification
Public status can be checked through the Portcullis Verify register, by company name or certificate number. The register shows the current status, scope and validity dates.
Portcullis Certification demonstrates that an organisation has been assessed against defined Portcullis controls. Certification does not guarantee that an organisation will be free from crime, fraud, security incidents or criminal infiltration.
Apply
Enquire about certification
Tell us about your business and we will explain the next steps, the likely scope and the cost.
Submitting an enquiry does not commit your organisation to certification. Portcullis will first review scope, eligibility and next steps.