Sourcing EU Compliant Botanical Extracts

Sourcing an EU compliant botanical extract comes down to confirming what the extract actually is, checking it can legally be placed on the EU market, screening it for contaminants, and securing the documentation that proves all of this. This guide walks through the practical steps, in the order they matter, so you source an extract that holds up to compliance and quality review.

1. Define the extract precisely

A botanical extract is only meaningful once you know the plant species, the part used (root, leaf, fruit), the extraction solvent and ratio, and the standardised marker compound and its level. Two extracts of the same plant can be very different products. Pin these down first, since everything else depends on them.

2. Check novel food status

Some extracts, extraction methods, or higher concentrations fall under the EU novel food rules and need authorisation before sale. Check novel food status early so you do not build a formula around an extract that cannot be placed on the market. For the wider framework, see EU compliant nutraceutical ingredients.

3. Screen for contaminants

Botanicals are agricultural products, so contaminant screening matters more than for synthetic actives. A compliant extract should be tested for heavy metals, pesticide residues, residual solvents, and microbiological safety, with results on the certificate of analysis.

4. Secure the documentation

A certificate of analysis covering identity, the standardised marker, and the contaminant screen, plus a specification sheet, is the evidence the extract matches what you ordered and what the rules permit. See quality and documentation for what Indock supplies on every ingredient.

How Indock sources botanical extracts

We source botanical extracts against these criteria, confirming the plant part and standardisation, checking novel food status, and supplying the CoA and specification with each lot. Tell us the extract and marker level you need and we work to source a verified, compliant supply.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check first when sourcing a botanical extract?

Do botanical extracts have novel food concerns?

What documentation should a botanical extract come with?