When sourcing psyllium husk from India, buyers face a common challenge: how do you verify the quality claims made by suppliers? The answer lies in independent, third-party laboratory testing — a practice that separates reliable export partners from commodity traders.

The Problem with Self-Certified Quality

Many psyllium exporters provide in-house test certificates. While internal quality control is essential at the processing stage, it creates an obvious conflict of interest when the same company both produces and certifies its own product. International buyers — particularly in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors — require independent verification.

What Should a Proper COA Cover?

A comprehensive Certificate of Analysis from an accredited laboratory such as SGS or Italab should cover the following parameters:

  • Physical: Purity percentage, moisture content, swell volume (ml/g), colour index, ash content
  • Microbial: Total Plate Count, Yeast & Mould, E. Coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus
  • Heavy Metals: Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg)
  • Chemical: Pesticide residue (multi-residue screen), Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, Total)
  • MOAH/MOSH: Mineral Oil Aromatic and Saturated Hydrocarbons — increasingly critical for EU-destined shipments

MOAH/MOSH: The New EU Compliance Frontier

In 2025, the EU's Rapid Alert System (RASFF) issued notifications for psyllium husk powder withdrawn from the German market due to MOAH contamination. Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons can enter agricultural products through mechanical lubricants during processing, printing inks on packaging, or treated jute bags. MOAH compounds are suspected genotoxic and carcinogenic.

Proactive MOAH/MOSH screening using LC-GC-FID analytical methods is no longer optional for exporters targeting European markets — it is a competitive necessity. At Sigma Global, this testing is included as standard for all EU-destined shipments.

Gamma Irradiation vs Steam Treatment vs ETO

Sterilization is another area where transparency matters. Gamma irradiation (Cobalt-60) is a chemical-free, cold-process method that eliminates pathogens without altering moisture, texture, or mucilage properties. It is the preferred method for US pharmaceutical buyers.

Steam treatment (autoclaving at 121–124°C) is preferred for EU food-grade applications where irradiation labelling under Directive 1999/2/EC may be undesirable.

Ethylene Oxide (ETO) sterilization, still used by some Indian exporters, leaves measurable chemical residue and faces increasingly strict regulation in both the EU and US. We do not offer ETO-treated products.

The Sigma Global Approach

As an export trading company, our value lies not in manufacturing but in quality assurance and supply chain transparency. Every Sigma Global shipment undergoes independent laboratory testing before dispatch. We share the full COA with buyers for approval prior to shipping — so you verify before you commit.

Trial orders start from 500 kg. Contact us at sales@sigmaglobal.co.in to request specifications and a sample COA.