2026-03-05 · 10 min read
A COA is a contract exhibit, not marketing
The Certificate of Analysis attached to your proforma invoice becomes the quality benchmark at port of loading. If a parameter is missing, it is not tested — not 'within limits.'
Lab accreditation first
Check: is the testing lab NABL-accredited (India) or equivalent ISO 17025? Eurofins, SGS, and Vimta India operations carry NABL scope. An in-house lab COA from the processor is not neutral.
Pesticide panel vs your market
EU buyers: confirm multi-residue panel against current EU MRL regulation — not a generic 'pesticide free' line. US buyers: check FDA import alerts for the specific product and origin.
Microbiology limits
Verify Salmonella (absent in 25g for EU), E. coli, TPC, yeast & mould against your internal spec — not just 'pass.' Indian export standards and buyer specs often differ.
Batch traceability
COA must show: batch/lot number, production date, sampling date, test date, and method reference. Without batch linkage, the COA cannot be matched to your container.
Retention sample clause
Ask whether the exporter retains a sealed sample for 6 months. Nisvel policy: retention at origin and recommendation for buyer-side retention — enables counter-testing if port-of-entry dispute arises.
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