The label is where a compliant product becomes a non-compliant one.
Heavy metals are the first test a buyer asks about, and the one most likely to fail on a botanical or a mineral. The limits depend on the market and on the daily dose; the method is ICP-MS after microwave digestion.
| Element | Typical limit | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | ≤3 mg/kg | ICP-MS | Tighter limits for some markets |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤3 mg/kg | ICP-MS | Botanicals and cocoa need attention |
| Mercury (Hg) | ≤0.1 mg/kg | ICP-MS | Fish-derived materials need attention |
| Arsenic (As) | Set with the market | ICP-MS | Inorganic arsenic may be specified separately |
Botanical extracts, mineral salts and cocoa-derived materials carry the highest risk in this range. They are tested per batch, not per supplier certificate. If your market has a Prop 65 limit or a state-specific limit, send it before the batch.
Residual solvents follow ICH Q3C. Ethanol and ethyl acetate are Class 3 and have a high permitted limit; hexane is Class 2 and has a much lower limit. The extraction and the coating processes decide which solvents can appear.
| Class | Examples | Limit | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Benzene, carbon tetrachloride | Avoid | Declaration that none is used |
| Class 2 | Hexane, toluene | Low limit | Test if the process uses it |
| Class 3 | Ethanol, ethyl acetate | Higher limit | Test or declaration, per market |
A COA that says 'solvents: conforms' without naming the panel is not auditable. Ask for the panel and the detection limit.
Pesticides are tested against the destination market's MRL list. The EU list is the most detailed; the US and Japan have their own. A multi-residue panel by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS is the standard approach.
For botanical powders and extracts, the pesticide panel is agreed with the raw-material supplier and verified on the finished batch when the market requires it.
Microbial limits follow the pharmacopoeia or the customer's specification. The standard panel is total plate count, yeast and mould, E. coli and Salmonella. Water activity and moisture are the process controls that keep the result inside the limit.
| Test | Typical limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Total plate count | ≤10³ cfu/g | Ph. Eur. 2.6.12 |
| Yeast and mould | ≤10² cfu/g | Ph. Eur. 2.6.12 |
| E. coli | Absent / 1 g | Ph. Eur. 2.6.13 |
| Salmonella | Absent / 25 g | Ph. Eur. 2.6.13 |
The limits are set with the market and the product. A raw material that passes the incoming test can still fail after blending or gummy depositing if the process water or the environment is not controlled.
The label is where a compliant product becomes a non-compliant one. The rules differ by market, and the brand owner is responsible for the final label; we review the artwork against the specification before print.
No disease claims, no claims to treat or prevent a disease, and no comparison to a drug. If the artwork contains one, we ask for it to be removed before print.
The site holds ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP and Halal certificates. Organic certificates are available for the spirulina and chlorella lines when the raw material is certified. A customer-specific questionnaire can be completed before the order.
| Document | When it is issued | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| COA | Per batch | Method, limit and batch result |
| TDS | Before the order | Specification and packaging |
| Allergen statement | Before the order | Allergen and gelatin/collagen source |
| GMO statement | Before the order | GMO status of the formula |
| Halal certificate | On request | Site and product scope |
| Organic certificate | On request | Where the raw material is certified |
| MSDS | On request | Handling and transport |
The document pack is part of the quotation, not an afterthought. If your importer needs a specific document, name it in the RFQ so it can be included in the schedule.
Each row maps one product in this range to the parameter this document controls. The product pages link back to their own row; when you compare two products, compare the method column before the number.
| Product | Key limit | Document to request |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium Malate Powder | Heavy metals, elemental limits | COA, elemental panel |
| NAD+ Powder | Heavy metals, solvents | COA, TDS, identity |
| Ashwagandha Root Powder | Heavy metals, pesticides | COA, pesticide panel |
| Fisetin Powder | Heavy metals, pesticides | COA, pesticide panel |
| Silymarin Powder | Heavy metals, pesticides | COA, pesticide panel |
| Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies | Heavy metals, microbiology | COA, TDS, allergen statement |
| Collagen Gummies | Heavy metals, microbiology | COA, TDS, collagen source |
| Spermidine Powder | Heavy metals, solvents | COA, TDS, related polyamines |
| Melatonin Powder | Heavy metals, market status | COA, TDS, import-status note |
| Oat Beta-Glucan Powder | Heavy metals, allergens | COA, TDS, gluten/allergen statement |
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