INGREDIENT CERTIFICATION

Third Party Certification of Dietary Supplements and Natural Product Ingredients

Ingredients are the first step in the manufacturing process of dietary supplements and natural products. BSCG offers third party certification options to help ingredient brands demonstrate safety, quality, and manufacturing compliance with GMP. 

What Is Ingredient Certification for Dietary Supplements?

Ingredient certification is a third-party process that verifies an ingredient meets defined quality specifications, screens for relevant contaminants, and supports manufacturing compliance expectations. For sport, military, and other drug tested populations, ingredient certification also helps reduce the risk of banned substance contamination. BSCG screens ingredients for more than 450 banned substances in sport or other drugs that are included in Amazon or other retailer compliance policies.

Why Ingredient Certification Matters

Third party ingredient certification strengthens confidence across the supply chain by helping brands and manufacturers:

Who Ingredient Certification Is For

BSCG ingredient certification is commonly used by:

Ingredient Certification Options from BSCG

BSCG offers three third-party certification options for ingredients, based on your risk profile and market needs. 

What Is Ingredient Certification for Dietary Supplements?

Reduce contamination risk, including banned substances and environmental contaminants

Verify ingredient specifications for identity, purity, strength, composition, and limits on environmental contaminants

Support GMP quality control expectations under 21CFR111

Provide added assurance for drug tested populations and risk sensitive product categories and establishes compliance requirements are met

Build trust with private label partners, retailers, and consumers

Ingredient suppliers and branded ingredient companies

Contract manufacturers sourcing and qualifying raw materials

Sports nutrition brands that wish to ensure the integrity of the ingredients in their products

Brands selling in regulated or risk sensitive categories

Brands selling that need testing alignment with Amazon dietary supplement seller central requirements

BSCG CERTIFIED DRUG FREE

A good product starts with quality ingredients. For sport nutrition or other ingredients marketed for use in sports and active nutrition products, it is critical to verify ingredients align with anti-doping rules for sport, military, or first responders.

Certified Drug Free is BSCG’s gold standard certification program for ingredients. It tests every lot, or monthly, for more than 450+ drugs, with annual verification of ingredient quality specifications and environmental contaminant testing. An initial GMP compliance audit is conducted as part of the initial certification process.

Ingredient Certification, Details and Process

BSCG CERTIFIED QUALITY

Third party certification can help ingredient brands demonstrate quality to private label distributors and support GMP compliance requirements. It also allows brands to use the certification seal to represent compliance publicly.

Certified Quality is an annual certification program that tests ingredient lots to verify quality specifications, screen for environmental contaminants, and test for banned substances. It strengthens the quality profile for your brand and supports stronger commercial confidence among downstream supplement brands and manufacturers.

Ingredient Certification, Details and Process 

Ingredient Certification, Details and Process

• Initial review of Standard Operating Procedures for the ingredient brand
• Verification of onsite 21CFR111 GMP audit from BSCG or another reputable provider at the facility or facilities that manufacture the ingredient
• Initial ingredient evaluation considers general toxicology, banned substance issues and ingredient compliance
• In depth review of ingredient specifications and ongoing quality control process to verify identity, purity, strength, composition, and limits on contaminants
• Product or ingredient specifications must be verified annually by a qualified testing provider or by BSCG. The Certified Quality program can be added to accomplish this requirement.
• Ingredient brands must be properly registered with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other appropriate body for the region of manufacture and/or sale.
• Ingredient brand will be listed on the BSCG Certified GMP Clients page 
• Certified GMP red seal can be used in ingredient marketing materials and website

Key Facts at a Glance

• Certified Drug Free tests every lot or monthly for more than 450+ drugs

• BSCG’s banned substance testing menu includes more than 400 drugs on the WADA Prohibited List, plus more than 50 prescription, OTC, or illicit drugs

• Certified Quality includes identity and specification verification plus contaminant testing for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbiological agents

• Certified Quality standard turnaround time is usually 20 business days after sample receipt
• Certified GMP program verifies that a facility audit is in place for 21CFR111 and that quality control process and SOPs meet GMP requirements for ingredient providers

Differences Between Drug Free, Quality, and GMP Ingredient Certifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ingredient certification verify?

Ingredient certification verifies defined quality specifications for an ingredient, screens for contaminants, and supports manufacturing compliance expectations with GMP, with banned substance protection available through specific certification programs.

What does BSCG Certified Drug Free ingredient certification include?

BSCG Certified Drug Free includes testing ingredient lots for more than 450+ drugs, annual verification of ingredient quality specifications and environmental contaminant testing, and establishes compliance with GMP requirements and 21CFR111.

How often are ingredient lots tested under BSCG Certified Drug Free?

In the Certified Drug Free program either every lot must be certified, or one lot must be certified monthly to remain compliant. Random sampling and testing may occur at any time.

What substances does BSCG test for in its banned substance menu?

BSCG’s banned substance testing menu includes more than 400 drugs on the WADA Prohibited List plus more than 50 prescription, over the counter, or illicit drugs.

What does BSCG Certified Quality ingredient certification test for?

Certified Quality verifies ingredient quality specifications for identity, purity, strength, and composition and limits on contaminants for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbiological agents, and includes screening for BSCG’s banned substance testing menu. Testing is conducted annually.

What is the typical turnaround time for BSCG third-party certification?

In the Certified Drug Free program turnaround time is typically 10-15 business days. In the Certified Quality program the standard turnaround time is usually 20 business days after sample receipt.

What does BSCG Certified GMP for ingredients verify?

BSCG Certified GMP verifies that facilities involved in ingredient production have been audited and comply with 21CFR111 Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements and evaluates ingredient provider responsibilities and SOPs with an in depth review of the quality control process.

Certified GMP program verifies that a facility audit is in place for 21CFR111 and that quality control process and SOPs meet GMP requirements for ingredient providers