"GMP certified" appears on almost every herbal extract supplier's website. For a buyer, the phrase raises more questions than it answers: certified by whom, to which standard, for which site, and is it still valid? This guide explains what GMP actually covers and how to check a supplier's claim in a few minutes.
In short: GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) is a system for making products consistently and safely. A GMP certificate is only meaningful if you know the standard, the certification body, the site and the expiry date, and if the supplier's day-to-day records back it up.
Key takeaways
- GMP covers people, premises, equipment, documents, raw materials, production, testing and complaints.
- There is no single global GMP certificate; standards and certification bodies differ.
- FDA food facility registration is a registration, not a certification or approval.
- Verify the certificate number, site address and expiry, and ask to see records, not just the certificate.
What GMP covers
- People: trained staff, hygiene and clear responsibilities.
- Premises and equipment: clean, maintained and suitable for the process.
- Raw materials: approved suppliers, identity checks and quarantine.
- Production: written procedures and batch records for every lot.
- Quality control: testing, release decisions, retained samples and stability.
- Complaints, recalls and deviations: recorded, investigated and fixed.
GMP, ISO 22000, NSF 455-2 and FDA registration
| Item | What it is | What it is not |
|---|---|---|
| GMP certificate | A third-party audit against a GMP standard | A government approval of products |
| ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 | Food safety management system certification | A supplement-specific GMP standard |
| NSF/ANSI 455-2 | US dietary supplement GMP certification, based on FDA's 21 CFR 111 and 117 | Required by law |
| FDA food facility registration | Registration of a facility that handles food for the US | A certification or FDA approval |
| FSSAI licence (India) | Indian food business licence | An export quality certificate |
How to verify a GMP certificate
- Check the company name and site address match the place your product is made.
- Check the scope: does it cover herbal extracts or the product type you buy?
- Check the certificate number, issue and expiry dates.
- Check the certification body, and whether it is accredited; contact it to confirm the certificate if in doubt.
- Ask for the latest audit summary or confirmation that surveillance audits are up to date.
Qualifying a new supplier? Ask us for our certificates and a supplier questionnaire pack.
Request DocumentsRecords that prove GMP in practice
A certificate is a snapshot. Records show whether GMP happens every day. Reasonable requests include a sample batch record, the supplier approval procedure, a recent COA with test methods, deviation and complaint handling procedures, and stability data for your product type. Our COA guide helps you read the test results.
Supplier audits
For important ingredients, many brands audit suppliers on site or by video, often using a questionnaire first. In the US, brand owners are responsible for qualifying their suppliers and for identity testing under 21 CFR Part 111, and FDA has held distributors responsible for GMP failures at their contract manufacturers. An audit is the most reliable way to confirm that the certificate reflects reality.
Buyer checklist
- GMP certificate: standard, body, site, scope and expiry checked
- Food safety certificate (ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000) if relevant
- FDA registration for US shipments, understood as registration only
- Sample batch record and complete COA
- Audit or detailed questionnaire for key ingredients
See also our 12-point supplier checklist.
A GMP certificate opens the door. The batch records behind it are what earn the trust.
Extracts Made Under GMP and ISO 22000
Popular herbal extracts from our certified facility in India, each with a certificate of analysis for every batch.
Ashwagandha Extract
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Turmeric Extract
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Curcumin Extract
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Boswellia Serrata Extract
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Bacopa Monnieri Extract
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Moringa Leaf Extract
View ProductOur certificates
Arizone International LLP manufactures in India under GMP (self-owned certificate, issued by UK Certification & Inspection Ltd), ISO 22000:2018, HACCP and halal certification, with an FSSAI licence and US FDA food facility registration. Every certificate is shown as the original PDF on our certificates page, and we provide supplier questionnaires, COAs and batch documents on request.
Sources: NSF: NSF/ANSI 455-2 dietary supplements GMP; 21 CFR 111.75; Nutritional Outlook: FDA holds distributor responsible for GMP.
GMP Certification Questions
That a third party audited the facility against a Good Manufacturing Practice standard covering people, premises, materials, production and testing.
No. Food facility registration is a registration of the site, not an approval or certification of products.
A US GMP certification standard for dietary supplements, based on FDA's 21 CFR 111 and 117.
Check the company, site, scope, number and expiry, and confirm with the certification body if needed.
It is a food safety management certification. It overlaps with GMP but is not the same standard.
For key ingredients, yes. An audit or detailed questionnaire confirms the certificate reflects daily practice.