Many, if not most, dietary supplement brands outsource manufacturing to a Contract Manufacturer (CM).  Choosing the best aligned CM is critical for a brand’s success in many ways.  The brand owner should look at the dietary supplement contract manufacturer as a partner, not just a vendor, because of how critical it is for the products to be made to specifications.  There are dozens, if not hundreds, of responsibilities the CM is responsible for.

Ask for the Manufacturing Agreement!  A Manufacturing Agreement is critical to defining what responsibilities each party is accountable for.  It should address every aspect of the partnership in writing including pricing, product specifications, ingredient sourcing, quality control, FDA compliance, labels, testing, delivery, payment terms, insurance, and most importantly the process for resolving issues.  Be very suspicious of any dietary supplement contract manufacturers that do not put these important facets of a contract manufacturing relationship in writing.  All of the CM obligations should be clearly documented.

Do not be afraid to ask for the manufacturing agreement!  If a manufacturer does not have one that clearly addresses the dietary supplement contract manufacturer’s responsibilities, the CM should be immediately disqualified as a manufacturing partner.  You cannot afford to have your vitamins and supplements made in a way that does not meet your expectations.

If you would like more information about dietary supplement contract manufacturing agreements or would like to talk with someone about supplement manufacturing, please contact Sawgrass Nutra Labs here.