[a] International traders in London—including those from France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Baltic, Hungary, the Mediterranean and the United States—founded the London Corn Trade Association in 1878 in order to standardize shipping documents for exporting nations and to clarify procedures and disputes relating to the quality of imported grain.

In the same year, SGS was founded in Rouen, France, by Henri Goldstuck, a young Latvian immigrant who, having seen the opportunities at one of the country's largest ports, began to inspect French grain shipments.

[8] With the aid of Captain Maxwell Shafftington, he borrowed money from an Austrian friend to start inspecting the shipments arriving in Rouen as, during transit, losses showed in the volume of grain as a result of shrinkage and theft.

During the mid-20th century, SGS started offering inspection, testing and verification services across a variety of sectors, including industrial, minerals and oil, gas and chemicals, among others.

The Qualcert accreditation was approved by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (France), the Directorate General of Higher Education (DGES) and the Conference of University Presidents (CPU).