- Certification is one type of assurance system that aims to guarantee that certain standards have been met for how a product is produced or managed. Other assurance systems include voluntary standards, regulations, and corporate social responsibility programs. - There are different types of certification including certification of products/quality, management systems, origin/chain of custody, and processes and production methods. A system that certifies across all these areas provides the highest level of assurance. - Developing an effective certification system requires identifying objectives, consulting stakeholders, establishing standards and criteria, implementing a compliance system, and ensuring it is financially sustainable and accepted as legitimate.