INGREDIENT CERTIFICATION

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.

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.

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

• 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
• Ongoing testing for banned substances required on every lot, or monthly
• Build trust with private label partners, retailers, and consumers

BSCG ingredient certification is commonly used by:

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

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 lots are tested for BSCG’s full menu of 450+ banned substances in sport, prescription, over the counter, and illicit drugs
• BSCG testing menu includes 400 drugs on the WADA Prohibited List, plus 50 additional prescription, OTC, or illicit drugs
• Covers the drugs required in Amazon Seller Central for dietary supplements
• Either every lot, or one lot monthly, must be certified to remain compliant
• Verification of ingredient specifications by BSCG or another qualified third party is required annually
• Random sampling and testing may be conducted at any time
• Initial toxicology review and ingredient evaluation
• 21CFR111 GMP quality control process review
• Certified ingredient lots are listed by lot number on the Certified Clients page and in the BSCG online database
• A custom Certified Client page on the BSCG website can include client summary, ingredient images, sales links, and more
• Certified Drug Free gold seal can be used on certified ingredient packaging and associated marketing materials

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.

• One lot must be tested annually; additional lots can be added if needed
• Ingredient testing verifies quality specifications for identity, purity, strength, and composition, and limits on contaminants
• Contaminant testing covers heavy metals,microbiological agents and also pesticides for herbal ingredients
• Screening includes BSCG’s industry leading banned substance testing menu covering more than 450 drugs, including more than 400 on the WADA Prohibited List and more than 50 additional prescription, OTC, or illicit drugs
• Includes drugs required in Amazon Seller Central for sports nutrition and bodybuilding, sexual enhancement, weight loss or weight management, and joint health
• Standard turnaround time is usually 20 business days after sample receipt
• 21CFR111 GMP quality control process review including supplier qualification, specifications and testing, and contaminant testing
• Ingredient brand and certified lot numbers are included on BSCG Certified Clients pages and online database
• Certified Client page includes brand summary, certified lots, images, sales links, and more
• Certified Quality blue seal can be used on ingredient packaging and marketing materials

Contract manufacturers often pursue GMP certification for their facilities, but ingredient suppliers have GMP compliance requirements too. That is what the Certified GMP program is designed to evaluate and represent.

BSCG Certified GMP for ingredients verifies that ingredient brands comply with 21CFR111 Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. The program is a document audit that verifies GMP compliance at the ingredient production facility as well as requirements that are specific to brands and not included in onsite GMP audits.

• 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

• 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

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.