Buyer guide ·
Buying bulk sweeteners and fibre in Australia: the documentation checklist
The documents your QA team should collect before approving a new stevia, monk fruit or psyllium supplier — and what to look for in each.
Approving a new ingredient supplier is mostly about paperwork. Get the right documents up front and the first delivery goes straight into production; miss one and goods sit in quarantine. This checklist covers what Australian food and supplement manufacturers usually ask for when buying stevia extracts, monk fruit extract or psyllium husk.
1. Product specification
The agreed specification sets the limits every lot must meet: appearance, assay (Reb A, Reb M or mogroside V content, or psyllium purity and swell volume), moisture, ash, heavy metals and microbiology. Check that it matches what your own finished-product specification needs.
2. Certificate of analysis for each lot
The COA reports the actual results for the lot delivered. Check the lot number matches the packs, the results fall within specification, and the test methods (for example HPLC for glycoside assay) are stated.
3. Safety Data Sheet
An SDS in GHS format supports your work health and safety obligations — handling, storage, dust and fire information for your warehouse and production team.
4. Allergen and GMO statements
Declarations of allergens in the product and on the production site, and whether the product is derived from genetically modified organisms. These feed directly into your allergen management plan and labelling.
5. Manufacturer certifications
Depending on your customers and markets: food safety management system certification (for example ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 or HACCP), GMP, Halal, Kosher and organic certificates. Check the certificate holder, scope and expiry date.
6. Regulatory status
Confirm the ingredient’s status in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code for your product category. Steviol glycosides (INS 960), for example, are a permitted intense sweetener with specified conditions of use. If your product makes therapeutic claims — common with psyllium fibre supplements — it may be regulated by the TGA instead, with different requirements.
7. Origin and traceability
A country-of-origin declaration supports your labelling under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard, and lot traceability supports your recall plan.
8. Commercial terms
Minimum order quantity, packaging, lead time, delivery terms and shelf life. Agree what happens if a lot is out of specification.
Our approach
Suvita sends the specification, SDS and statements before you order and a COA with every lot. Manufacturer certificates are provided on request. See Quality & certifications for the full list, or request the documents for the product you are qualifying.
Quick answers
What is a COA?
A certificate of analysis — the lot-specific test report showing the delivered batch meets its specification.
Do I need an SDS for food ingredients?
Most businesses keep an SDS for every bulk material handled in the workplace; it supports WHS obligations for dust, storage and handling.
Published by Suvita. General information only — confirm formulation and regulatory decisions with your own advisers.
