Why a supplier directory needs a visible source change log
A reader may revisit a profile after a register, certificate or company statement changes. Without a change log, the old conclusion can be mistaken for the current one.
What the primary source can establish
The U.S. International Trade Administration due diligence guide is the first-party reference for this guide. The guide separates country, company or partner, and purchasing risks and calls for continuing due diligence. It does not investigate or endorse any named supplier on Source Ledger. The steps below are our editorial method for making a buyer-facing field more precise.
A field-level check
For each material update, record the field, old wording, new wording, source URL, review date and reason. Keep a reviewer name or role internally. Make it possible to trace a correction back to the original evidence.
Write down the exact field, the party that supplied the information, the original document or page, the date seen and the scope of the check. If a reviewer took an action, record that action rather than a general “verified” label. Reopen the source when the transaction or underlying document changes.
Where the inference stops
Do not simply overwrite a disputed claim and erase why it was removed. A history of changes is not proof that every field is currently correct, but it makes corrections auditable.
A missing answer is a question to resolve, not permission to substitute a guess. Separate a statement by the supplier from a public record and from a documented human review. No source in this article proves a quality ranking or an existing buyer relationship.
What to record before deciding
Show a concise public “last reviewed” note and material correction when a named profile eventually exists. Until then, apply the same discipline to method articles and their cited sources.
This entry describes how to evaluate evidence. It is not a dossier for a real company, an approval decision or a substitute for transaction-specific professional review.
Common question
Should a changed source automatically change the article conclusion?
No. Re-read the source, assess which claim it affects and document the editorial decision.
Related guide
Continue with When a supplier website looks current but its claims are old for another field-level check.