If you’re a supplement brand owner, you already know selling on Amazon isn’t just about keywords and pretty labels anymore. It’s about trust. And trust on Amazon starts with proof — third-party testing proof.
Amazon used to let almost anything slide in the supplement category. But now? They’ve turned it into a compliance minefield (and for good reason). With so many sellers pushing untested or mislabeled products, Amazon introduced stricter documentation rules that require you to prove your supplements are safe, compliant, and exactly what you claim they are.
So if you’re thinking about listing your supplement you manufactured— or you’ve received that dreaded “Documentation Required” email from Amazon — here’s exactly what kind of third-party testing documentation you’ll need, how to get it, and how to make sure your listing doesn’t get taken down.
What Amazon Means by “Third-Party Testing”
When Amazon says “third-party testing,” they mean testing performed by an independent ISO 17025–accredited laboratory — not your manufacturer’s in-house QC, not your buddy’s test lab, and not “we have COAs on file somewhere.”
These labs specialize in dietary supplement analysis and meet international standards for laboratory competence (ISO/IEC 17025). Amazon wants proof from these labs that your product:
- Contains what your label claims (potency/identity testing)
- Is free of dangerous contaminants (microbial and heavy metals)
- Was produced safely in an FDA-registered, cGMP-compliant facility
That’s the bare minimum.
Amazon’s Required Documentation for Dietary Supplements
Amazon may update the exact requirements depending on the supplement category, but here’s what every legitimate supplement brand needs to upload and keep ready:
1. Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A COA is the single most important document Amazon requests.
It must:
- Be issued by a third-party ISO 17025–accredited lab
- Show your brand name, product name, and batch/lot number
- Include test results for identity, potency, and purity
- Confirm microbiological safety (no E. coli, Salmonella, yeast, or mold)
- Confirm heavy metals are within safe limits (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury)
- Be dated within 12 months of submission
Amazon usually rejects COAs that come from:
- Manufacturers’ internal QA departments (not independent)
- Labs without ISO 17025 accreditation
- Missing lot numbers or brand names
- Partial COAs that test only one ingredient
2. GMP Certificate or Letter of GMP Compliance
Amazon wants proof that your supplement was made in a facility that follows Good Manufacturing Practices (21 CFR 111).
You can provide either:
- A GMP certificate issued by a recognized auditing body (like NSF, UL, SGS, or NPA)
- A signed letter from your manufacturer on company letterhead stating that the facility complies with cGMP standards
If you’re private labeling and your manufacturer already holds this certification, ask them for a copy — they’re used to it.
3. Product Images of the Label
Seems minor, but Amazon often requires your supplement label images to match your COA.
That means:
- The product name and brand name on your COA must exactly match your Amazon listing and label
- The Supplement Facts panel must list the same ingredients as tested on your COA
- No disease claims (“cures anxiety,” “treats arthritis,” etc.)
Mismatch anything here and Amazon can (and will) suspend your listing until it’s corrected.
Optional but Smart to Include
Some brands go above and beyond to future-proof themselves against random Amazon audits:
- Allergen statement (from manufacturer)
- Stability data if your product contains probiotics or volatile actives
- Raw material COAs (useful if you’re questioned about a specific ingredient)
- Heavy metal test summary for multi-batch products
Adding these to your compliance folder makes your account look buttoned up and professional — which helps when Amazon’s compliance team manually reviews your listing.
Where to Get Third-Party Testing Done
Some of the most widely accepted testing labs for Amazon supplements include:
- Eurofins Scientific
- NSF International
- Covance (Labcorp)
- Intertek
- Micro Quality Labs
- QPS Laboratories
Make sure the lab provides:
- ISO 17025 accreditation
- Certificates with batch numbers and product names
- Testing for potency, purity, heavy metals, and microbials
If you’re working with a contract manufacturer, ask whether they already partner with one of these labs. You might be able to piggyback on their testing relationship and save weeks of setup time.
How Often You Should Test Your Supplements
Amazon typically accepts COAs dated within 12 months, but if you’re running multiple production batches per year, test at least once per batch to protect yourself.
Here’s a smart rhythm most experienced brands follow:
- Initial production: Full panel testing (identity, potency, micro, heavy metals)
- Every batch: Potency + micro + heavy metals
- Annual review: Stability and shelf-life verification (especially for probiotics and powders)
It’s not just for Amazon — these same documents will make your brand look credible to distributors, retail buyers, and investors.
What Happens If You Don’t Provide the Right Documentation
You don’t want to find out the hard way.
If your documentation is incomplete or fails verification:
- Amazon will remove your listing until valid documents are uploaded
- You may get an account health violation under “Restricted Products”
- Repeat offenses can lead to permanent suspension from the category
In other words: don’t upload random PDFs and hope for the best. Every document must tie together — COA, label, GMP letter — like one continuous paper trail.
Pro Tip: Build a Compliance Packet
Create a single folder for each SKU containing:
- Final product label (PDF + images)
- COA (ISO 17025 lab)
- GMP certificate/letter
- Raw material COAs (optional)
- Stability and allergen statement (optional)
This not only keeps Amazon happy but also makes you ready for distribution, wholesale, or regulatory audits later.
Final Thoughts
Amazon’s supplement category isn’t the wild west anymore. The brands winning now are the ones that treat compliance like marketing — because transparency is marketing.
When you have ISO 17025 third-party testing, GMP documentation, and clean COAs ready to go, Amazon sees you as a trusted seller. Customers do too.
If you’re manufacturing through NutraSeller, we’ll make sure every batch comes with:
- ISO 17025–tested COAs
- cGMP-compliant production documentation
- A clear label-to-lab data match
That’s the formula for staying live, staying compliant, and scaling your supplement brand on Amazon — the right way.
