ISO 9001 cosmetic manufacturer: quality, GMP and batch testing

Our certifications and the standards we follow

Three different references, to be read for what they are: a certification we hold, a working standard we apply, and a certification in progress.

Testing on every batch

A batch is the quantity of product made in a single run, with the same raw materials. We test every one, not a sample taken now and then between orders.

• In-house laboratory: checks incoming raw materials, product in process and finished product against the approved specifications
• Accredited external laboratories: test every batch, including for heavy metals
• Batch code: each batch has a code printed on the pack that links it to its raw materials, production and shipment

Testing both in-house and externally costs more than doing it once. We do it because an analysis by an independent laboratory carries more weight, for you and for the retailers, pharmacy chains and marketplaces that sell your product.

Traceability from raw material to shelf

If a customer reports a problem, you need to find out quickly what is in that pack. With the batch code we can reconstruct:

1. Which raw materials were used, with their batch numbers and suppliers.
2. When and on which line the product was made and filled.
3. Which tests it passed, in-house and external.
4. Who it was shipped to and when, including when we store the goods for you with our logistics and storage service.

Traceability protects you as brand owner too: both Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and the UK Cosmetics Regulation require each cosmetic on the market to be identifiable by batch, and the batch number is one of the mandatory items on the label. See our guide to EU cosmetic labelling.

Qualified suppliers of raw materials and packaging

The quality of a cosmetic starts before the plant. We buy raw materials from qualified suppliers who provide technical and safety documentation for every ingredient. When a supplier is new, we assess them before using their materials in production.

For bottles, tubes, cartons and boxes we work with certified suppliers we have known for years. Knowing who prints and makes your custom cosmetic packaging reduces surprises: colours, closures and materials arrive exactly as approved together.

Claims and testing: a neutral assessment

A claim is what you state about the product: “moisturising”, “dermatologically tested”, “for sensitive skin”. Every claim must be backed by adequate evidence.

We entrust the tests behind functional claims to external laboratories chosen according to what you want to state. The people judging the product are not the people making it, so the result is neutral and you can stand behind it with customers and authorities. There is more detail in our guide to cosmetic claims and testing.

Documentation and regulatory support

With in-house expertise and external regulatory experts, we prepare the documentation needed to sell in the European Union, including the PIF (Product Information File) and the safety report, and we carry out the CPNP notification ourselves. For the UK, SCPN notification and the UK Responsible Person are available through partners, as is support for Canada, the USA, Mexico and Australia. All the details are on our EU and UK compliance page.

Confidentiality

We sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before receiving formulas and project details. On request, formulas developed through our custom formulation service stay exclusive to your brand and are never offered to others.

Frequently asked questions