| Ingredient Identity | Confirm that the supplied material is D-chiro-inositol and not a mixture of inositol stereoisomers. | D-chiro-inositol is commonly identified as CAS RN 643-12-9, molecular formula C6H12O6, with a molecular mass of approximately 180.16 g/mol. | Current specification, certificate of analysis, chromatographic identity method, and reference-standard or method-validation information. | Identity result conforms to the approved specification and is consistent across at least three commercial batches. |
| Assay and Purity | Evaluate quantitative purity, related substances, residual solvents, water content, and inorganic impurities. | Testing should follow validated, fit-for-purpose analytical procedures and the agreed product specification. | Batch-specific COA, HPLC or equivalent assay data, residual-solvent results, loss-on-drying or water result, and impurity profile. | Every released batch meets the contractual specification; test methods and reporting units are clearly stated. |
| Heavy Metals and Contaminants | Check lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, microbiological quality, and other risk-based contaminants. | Limits depend on the destination market, product category, serving size, and applicable food or supplement rules. | Recent independent or in-house laboratory reports using appropriate methods such as ICP-MS or equivalent, plus microbiological testing. | Results comply with the importing market’s limits and are traceable to the supplied batch. |
| FDA — U.S. Market | Verify whether the product is marketed as a dietary ingredient or dietary supplement and whether the facility follows U.S. dietary-supplement cGMP requirements. | U.S. dietary-supplement current good manufacturing practice is addressed in 21 CFR Part 111. A “FDA-approved supplier” designation should not be assumed because FDA generally does not pre-approve dietary supplements or ordinary supplement facilities. | Facility registration information where applicable, 21 CFR Part 111 quality records, specifications, master manufacturing records, batch records, complaint procedures, and recall procedures. | Documented compliance system, full traceability, appropriate quality-control release, and no unsupported “FDA certified” claim. |
| FDA — New Dietary Ingredient Review | Determine whether the ingredient qualifies as a new dietary ingredient for the intended U.S. use and whether a notification obligation may apply. | New dietary ingredient notification requirements are addressed in 21 CFR 190.6; applicability depends on the ingredient’s history of marketing and intended conditions of use. | Regulatory assessment, evidence of U.S. marketing history where relevant, or an applicable NDI notification and acknowledgement record. | Written, product-specific U.S. regulatory conclusion prepared by a qualified regulatory professional. |
| EU Food-Supplement Compliance | Check the intended member state, product presentation, dosage, health claims, labeling, and permitted ingredients. | Food supplements are governed at EU level by Directive 2002/46/EC, together with applicable national rules and other EU food legislation. | EU-compliant technical dossier, ingredient and dosage assessment, label review, allergen statement, contaminant data, and country-specific regulatory review. | Label and formulation are legally reviewed for the target EU member state before commercialization. |
| EU Novel Food Assessment | Establish whether the D-chiro-inositol material and its intended use require a novel-food assessment or authorization. | Novel foods are regulated under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Novel-food status is product-, process-, use-, and history-dependent. | Written novel-food status assessment, authorization reference if applicable, manufacturing-process description, and intended-use dossier. | No EU launch until the applicable novel-food and national-market requirements are documented. |
| Halal Certification | Verify the origin of raw materials, processing aids, cleaning agents, cross-contact controls, and manufacturing-site segregation. | Halal recognition is issued by a competent halal certification body and may be affected by the destination country’s recognition requirements. | Valid halal certificate naming the exact product and manufacturing site, certificate scope, validity dates, and approved ingredient list. | Valid and product-specific certificate with no expired scope or unapproved manufacturing location. |
| Kosher Certification | Confirm ingredient sources, processing equipment, thermal processing, cleaning procedures, and any Passover requirements if relevant. | Kosher status is determined by an authorized kosher certification organization and is specific to the product and facility. | Current kosher certificate, product code or listing, manufacturing-site details, and applicable Passover status. | Valid and product-specific certificate matching the supplied material and production site. |
| ISO 22000 Food-Safety Management | Assess whether the certificate covers the actual D-chiro-inositol manufacturing site and relevant processing activities. | ISO 22000:2018 specifies requirements for a food-safety management system. Certification is performed by an independent certification body; ISO itself does not issue certificates. | Certificate number, issuing certification body, accreditation information, site address, scope of certification, issue date, expiry date, and surveillance status. | Certificate is current, independently verifiable, and its scope includes the relevant manufacture or processing activity. |
| GFSI-Recognized Scheme | For large retailers or high-risk supply chains, determine whether an additional GFSI-recognized certification is contractually required. | GFSI recognition applies to specific certification-program scopes and versions; it is not automatically equivalent to ISO 22000 certification. | Current certificate, audit report or summary where permitted, scope statement, site address, and certification-body verification link or record. | Certification scheme and scope match the buyer’s supplier-approval policy and product category. |
| Traceability and Recall | Confirm one-step-back and one-step-forward traceability from raw materials to finished batches and customers. | Traceability and recall controls are core elements of effective food-safety and quality-management systems. | Lot-number system, supplier-approval procedure, mock-recall results, retention-sample policy, and documented complaint handling. | Supplier can identify affected raw materials, finished batches, and customers within the buyer’s required response time. |
| Packaging and Shelf Life | Review packaging suitability, moisture protection, storage conditions, retest period, and transport requirements. | Packaging and shelf-life claims should be supported by stability or retain-sample data under defined conditions. | Packaging specification, food-contact declaration where applicable, stability data, storage statement, and shipping qualification. | Shelf life is supported by documented data and remains valid through the expected international supply chain. |
| Supplier Qualification Score | Use a weighted assessment rather than selecting solely by price or a single certificate. | Recommended internal scoring model: regulatory compliance 30%, quality data 25%, certification scope 20%, traceability 15%, supply continuity 10%. | Completed supplier questionnaire, audit results, technical dossier, certificates, sample COAs, and corrective-action records. | Recommended approval threshold: at least 80/100, with no critical regulatory or food-safety findings open. |