Quality system
Quality is a documentation practice.
A botanical extract is only as good as the file behind it. This page explains what we test, what we issue, what the certificates actually cover, and where the limits of an ingredient supplier's responsibility sit.
Release discipline
Three gates between herb and drum.
The COA is the visible output. Behind it are a written specification, a sampling plan, and an analytical release decision that can be reconstructed later.
Specification agreed in writing
Botanical name, plant part, marker range, method, physical parameters, contaminant limits, carrier, and packaging are fixed before production. The quotation references the specification version.
Lot tested against the document
A representative sample is drawn from the finished lot and tested against the agreed parameters. Results outside the range trigger re-work, re-blending, or rejection — not a revised certificate.
COA issued and linked to the lot
The certificate carries the manufacturing lot, the specification reference, the methods, and the results. A retained sample is kept so the release can be verified later.
Analytical panel
What gets measured.
The exact panel is set per product and market. These are the groups every specification draws from, with the methods named on the certificate.
Identity and potency
- Botanical identity (macroscopic and TLC where applicable)
- Marker compound assay by HPLC or UV-VIS, method stated on the COA
- Extract ratio verification for non-standardized grades
- Moisture, ash, and acid-insoluble ash
Contaminants
- Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury (ICP-MS)
- Pesticide residues, multi-residue panel
- Residual solvents matched to the extraction system
- Microbiology: TPC, yeast and mold, E. coli, Salmonella
Physical and process
- Appearance, color, and odor
- Particle size and mesh distribution
- Bulk density and flowability
- Solubility or dispersibility in the target matrix
Method transparency
- HPLC is used where an individual compound or a defined set of compounds must be quantified.
- UV-VIS is used for family totals where the market convention accepts it — the method is always stated.
- Calculation basis (as-is or dry) is written on the certificate so two results can be compared fairly.
- Residual solvent panels follow the extraction system rather than a generic template.
Documentation pack
Six files, one lot number.
The documents are prepared for the batch, not for the website. Every file references the same lot and the same specification version so your quality team can release without chasing discrepancies.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-specific results for identity, assay, appearance, moisture, particle size, heavy metals, microbiology and any agreed additional parameters.
Technical data sheet
Botanical source, plant part, extraction solvent, carrier, specification range, solubility, bulk density and recommended storage.
Safety data sheet
16-section SDS in the format your EHS or regulatory team expects, issued against the exact grade supplied.
Allergen and GMO statements
Declarations covering the major allergen list, gluten, animal-derived inputs and GMO status, signed for the batch.
Origin and traceability record
Harvest or lot reference for the raw herb, manufacturing lot, and the link between the two for your supplier qualification file.
Regulatory support
Specification comparison, residual solvent and pesticide statements, and Halal or Kosher certificates where the grade is covered.
Certificates
Scope and validity before logos.
Certificates are a facility statement with a defined scope. They do not automatically apply to every product, every line, or every market. We confirm coverage in the quotation and supply the current certificate with the batch documents.
Facility-level certificates. Ask for the certificate copy, validity date, and product scope before adding a logo to packaging.
Traceability and retention
- Raw herb lots are recorded with origin, harvest reference, and supplier approval status.
- Manufacturing lots are linked to the herb lot used in the run.
- A retained sample is kept for the agreed period for audits and stability questions.
- Packaging and labels are checked against the agreed artwork before dispatch.
Independent verification
- Third-party testing is available and recommended for a new supplier or a high-value botanical.
- We support customer documentation reviews and sample retention checks.
- Ask for the laboratory's accreditation and the reporting limits for the method used.
Claims and regulatory position
What an ingredient file does not prove.
A specification, COA, and certificate file establish identity, composition, and quality control. They do not establish a health claim, a therapeutic effect, or the regulatory compliance of your finished product in your market. Those determinations belong to the brand and its regulatory advisors.
We supply technical and documentary information for business-to-business evaluation. We do not provide medical advice, and we do not recommend wording for consumer labels. Where a botanical is restricted, requires a warning, or has different permitted uses by market, that review must happen before the product is designed.
Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Botanical ingredients are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Cosmetic and food uses are subject to separate regulatory frameworks in each destination market.
If your team needs a specific document for a market submission, tell us at the quotation stage. We will confirm what exists, what can be arranged, and what we cannot support — before the order is placed.
Quality questions
The questions buyers ask us
Is every batch tested against the full panel?
Every lot is tested against the specification agreed in the quotation. That always includes identity, assay, appearance, moisture, and microbiology, plus the heavy-metal and solvent parameters written into the specification. Pesticide panels and additional third-party tests depend on the grade and destination and are quoted with the batch.
Can we use our own specification and limits?
Yes. Send your specification and we will confirm whether the process can meet it, or propose a counter-specification with the differences stated. The agreed version is attached to the quotation so both sides are working from the same document.
Do you provide third-party test reports?
Yes, where the buyer requests independent verification. Reports are issued against the batch by an accredited laboratory. We recommend third-party testing for a new supplier, a new botanical, or a high-value grade where authenticity is a concern.
How long are retained samples kept?
Retained samples are kept for the agreed retention period stated in the specification or quality agreement, so a batch can be re-checked if a customer audit or stability question arises. Confirm the period your market requires when the order is placed.
Do the certificates cover every product?
No. Certificates are facility-level and have a defined scope. Whether a specific extract is covered depends on the production line, the process, and the current certificate validity. We confirm coverage product by product in the quotation rather than implying blanket coverage.
Next step
Ask for the documents before the price.
Tell us the extract, the destination market, and the document your quality team needs. We will confirm what is available for the grade.