Supplement Certifications Guide
What each certification proves, what it does not prove, and how vendors report them. Independent assessments, no sponsored listings.
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Standards
Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)
FDA
Facility claims to follow FDA manufacturing quality requirements for dietary supplements (21 CFR Part 111).
cGMP Laboratory Compliance
FDA
Laboratory claims to follow cGMP practices for testing dietary supplements or ingredients..
FDA Materials Compliance
FDA
Packaging materials meet FDA requirements for food-contact safety..
ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratory Accreditation
ISO / IEC (accredited by bodies like A2LA, SCC, ANAB)
Laboratory has been independently accredited for technical competence in specific test methods.
ISO 9001 Quality Management System
ISO
Organization has implemented a quality management system that meets ISO 9001 requirements and passed a third-party audit..
ISO 13485 Medical Device Quality Management
ISO
Organization meets quality management requirements for medical device manufacturing..
ISO 22000 Food Safety Management
ISO
Organization has implemented an ISO-aligned food safety management system that integrates HACCP principles..
ISO Cleanroom Classification
ISO
Manufacturing area meets ISO 14644-1 particle count specifications for the stated class level..
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)
Codex Alimentarius Commission (implemented via FDA, USDA regulations)
Facility has implemented a hazard analysis system for food safety.
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
FDA (21 CFR Part 58)
Laboratory follows FDA GLP regulations for non-clinical studies.
BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials
BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards)
Packaging manufacturing facility has been audited against BRCGS Global Standard for Packaging Materials.
USP <232> Elemental Impurities — Limits
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
A product or ingredient manufacturer has tested against USP-specified elemental-impurity limits and met the published PDE thresholds for the dose form and route of administration in question..
USP <233> Elemental Impurities — Procedures
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
A laboratory used USP-specified ICP-MS or ICP-OES procedures (with validated methodology) to quantify elemental impurities in a sample..
USP <2023> Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile Dietary Supplements
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
A dietary supplement product or ingredient has been tested per USP-specified microbiological procedures and met published acceptance criteria for the product type..
USP <2750> Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
A manufacturer has adopted USP's voluntary GMP guidance for dietary supplements as an internal quality framework..
USP <711> Dissolution
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
A solid oral dosage form (tablet, capsule) has been tested under USP-specified dissolution conditions and met release-rate acceptance criteria for the specific monograph or product specification..
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
An organization has implemented an environmental management system that meets ISO 14001 requirements, third-party audited by an accredited certification body..
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
An organization has implemented an OH&S management system meeting ISO 45001 requirements, third-party audited by an accredited certification body.
NSF/ANSI 173 Dietary Supplements
NSF International / ANSI
Product tested per NSF/ANSI 173 protocol confirms label-claim accuracy for active ingredients and that contaminant levels fall below standard thresholds.
ISO 22716 — Cosmetics Good Manufacturing Practice
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Third-party certification body has audited the manufacturer's facility, processes, and quality systems against the ISO 22716 cosmetics-GMP framework.
NSF/ANSI 455-2 — Dietary Supplements GMP
NSF International + American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) joint publication; certified by NSF International
Third-party NSF audit confirms the manufacturing facility meets the NSF/ANSI 455-2 dietary-supplement-specific GMP standard.
Certifications
NSF GMP Registration / Certification
NSF International
Independent third-party audit confirms the facility meets NSF/ANSI 455-2 dietary supplement GMP requirements.
NSF Certified for Sport
NSF International
Specific products have been tested for 280+ substances banned by major athletic organizations.
NPA GMP Certification
Natural Products Association (NPA)
Facility has passed NPA's third-party GMP audit program for natural products manufacturing..
USDA Organic Certification
USDA (via accredited certifying agents: QAI, QCS, Oregon Tilth, etc.)
Facility or specific products meet USDA NOP organic standards.
Halal Certification
Various (ISA, IFANCA, ISWA, local Islamic authorities)
Products or facility meet the certifying body's interpretation of halal requirements..
Kosher Certification
Various (OU, KOF-K, Star-K, OK Kosher, cRc, local rabbinical authorities)
Products meet the certifying agency's kosher requirements.
FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification
Foundation for Food Safety Certification (FSSC)
Facility has a GFSI-benchmarked food safety management system combining ISO 22000 with additional requirements.
SQF (Safe Quality Food) Certification
Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), managed by FMI
Facility has passed a GFSI-benchmarked food safety (and possibly quality) audit.
BRCGS Storage & Distribution
BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards)
Facility has passed a GFSI-benchmarked audit for storage and distribution operations with a site-specific grade.
USP Verified Mark
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
Specific products have passed USP's rigorous testing program for identity, potency, purity, and manufacturing practices.
UL Certification
UL Solutions (formerly Underwriters Laboratories)
Product or facility has met UL's testing and certification requirements..
G7 Master Qualification (Printing)
Idealliance
Printing facility achieves consistent, accurate color reproduction per Idealliance G7 specifications..
AIB International Audit
AIB International
Facility has passed AIB International's food safety audit, which covers operational and environmental conditions, pest management, and food safety management systems..
SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)
Sedex Information Exchange CIC
Facility has undergone ethical supply chain auditing covering working conditions, labor rights, environmental impact, and business ethics.
Orthodox Union (OU) Kosher Certification
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU)
A product, facility, or ingredient has been certified by OU as meeting Orthodox Union kashrut standards.
IFANCA Halal Certification
Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)
A product, facility, or ingredient has been certified by IFANCA as meeting halal standards.
B Lab Certified B Corporation
B Lab
A company has scored 80+ on B Lab's B Impact Assessment across governance, workers, community, environment, and customers, AND has amended its legal charter to consider stakeholder impact alongside shareholder returns.
Fair Trade USA Certified
Fair Trade USA
Independent audit confirms producer relationships, worker conditions, traceability, and supply-chain practices meet Fair Trade USA standards.
GFCO Gluten-Free Certification
Gluten-Free Certification Organization (program of Gluten Intolerance Group)
Product tested ≤10 ppm gluten and facility cross-contamination controls verified per GFCO standard.
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Voluntary self-certification + CBP validation that the entity has implemented supply-chain security measures meeting C-TPAT minimum criteria.
Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)
European Union customs authorities (issued by national customs administrations)
National EU customs authority validates the entity meets AEO criteria for its certification scope.
Rainforest Alliance Certified
Rainforest Alliance
Independent audit confirms compliance with the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard for farms or supply chains.
Certified Vegan (Vegan Action)
Vegan Awareness Foundation (Vegan Action)
Vegan Action staff has reviewed product formulation and supplier statements confirming no animal-derived ingredients are used in the product or its testing.
OK Kosher Certified
OK Kosher Certification (OK Labs)
Rabbinic authority confirms ingredients, equipment, and process meet OK Kosher kashrut standards.
Kof-K Kosher Certification
Kof-K Kosher Supervision
Kof-K Kosher Supervision confirms the product, its ingredients, and the production facility meet Kof-K kashrut standards.
USDA BioPreferred Certified Biobased Product
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
ASTM D6866-tested biobased content percentage meets the USDA BioPreferred program threshold for the product category.
STAR-K Kosher Certification
STAR-K Kosher Certification (Baltimore)
STAR-K rabbinic authority confirms ingredients, equipment, and process meet STAR-K kashrut standards.
cRc Kosher (Chicago Rabbinical Council)
Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc)
cRc rabbinic authority confirms ingredients, equipment, and process meet cRc kashrut standards.
Certified Plant Based (Plant Based Foods Association)
Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA)
PBFA has reviewed product formulation to confirm it meets the 'Certified Plant Based' definition (no animal-derived ingredients) per PBFA program requirements.
ISA Halal (Islamic Services of America)
Islamic Services of America (ISA)
ISA halal-certification authority confirms product, ingredients, facility, and process meet ISA halal standards per Islamic dietary law.
Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG)
BSCG (independent supplement testing program; subsidiary of LGC Group)
Specific products tested against BSCG's banned-substance panel (>500 substances including WADA list + designer steroids + stimulants + diuretics).
Clean Label Project Certification
Clean Label Project (501(c)(3) nonprofit)
Specific products have been tested for environmental contaminants beyond what cGMP requires (heavy metals, pesticides, BPA, phthalates) AND the manufacturing facility holds an underlying NSF/SQF/NPA GMP certification that CLP audits..
EU-GMP (EudraGMDP)
European Medicines Agency (EMA) + national competent authorities (e.g., MHRA UK, AIFA Italy, ANSM France)
Facility holds a current EU-GMP certificate published in EudraGMDP database for MEDICINAL product manufacturing.
Registrations
FDA Facility Registration
FDA
Facility has registered with FDA as required by law.
FDA Drug Manufacturing License
FDA
Facility is licensed to manufacture drugs under stricter FDA drug GMP requirements (21 CFR 210/211), which exceed dietary supplement requirements (21 CFR 111)..
Health Canada Natural Product Number (NPN) / Site License
Health Canada
Facility holds a Health Canada site license and/or products have been issued Natural Product Numbers (NPNs), meaning they've been assessed for safety, efficacy, and quality..
TGA Listed / Registered (Australia)
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia
Products are authorized for sale in Australia under TGA regulations.
DEA Registration (Drug Enforcement Administration)
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Facility is authorized by the DEA to handle controlled substances.
FDA GRAS Notice
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)
Substance has a published GRAS Notice in FDA's public inventory (GRN number assigned).
Product Claims
Certifying Bodies
GFSI Benchmarked Certification
Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).benchmarks schemes, does not certify directly
Facility or organization holds a certification under a GFSI-benchmarked scheme..
ANAB Accreditation
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
Organization has been accredited by ANAB as competent to perform specific testing, calibration, or certification activities..
Certified Group Affiliation
Certified Group (parent company)
Company is part of the Certified Group portfolio of compliance and testing businesses..