What to look for in a Supplement Manufacturer

If you are new to the supplement industry, it can be overwhelming to select a manufacturer that is not only qualified, but also the right fit for your business. We’ve gathered a few of the top qualities of top performing manufacturers to help you in your search.

1. FDA Registered

Many brands confuse being “cGMP certified” with being “FDA certified”. In fact, the FDA does not certify manufacturing facilities. The cGMP certification is what verifies that the manufacturer is up to date on all current manufacturing processes. However, manufacturers still must be registered with the FDA to conduct business. The FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. It is the manufacturers who are responsible for making sure their products are safe before they go to market.

2. cGMP Certified

There is a difference between cGMP “certified” and “compliant”! Sawgrass Nutra Labs is cGMP certified. According to the FDA, “cGMP refers to the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations enforced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). cGMPs provide for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities.” Essentially, these practices are the rules that manufacturers must follow in order to guarantee they produce high quality products that are safe for consumers to use.

3. 3rd Party Testing

It is critical to work with a manufacturer that conducts 3rd party lab testing with credible labs. A legitimate and safe manufacturer will be able to provide Certificates of Analysis (COA’s) on each batch of product they manufacture. The COA’s not only ensure that your product is safe, but it also ensures that your product is what it says it is on the label.

4. Label Compliance

Ultimately, it is the brand’s responsibility to ensure that their labels are accurate and FDA compliant. However, a good manufacturer will help keep you updated with changes by monitoring current regulations. If an update is needed, a good manufacturer will bring it to the brand’s attention and adjust the formula to stay compliant. Having this level of support can help take some pressure off your shoulders during the manufacturing process.

5. Special Services

The manufacturing process is much easier when you select a manufacturer that’s a one-stop-shop. At Sawgrass Nutra Labs, we offer more than just our manufacturing services. We offer:

Custom ingredient sourcing
Formulation services with our in-house chemist
Labeling & Packaging services
Custom Kitting Services with product boxes, inserts and more
Fulfillment Services (individual, pallet, Fulfillment by Amazon, etc.)
Warehousing & Inventory Management

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