Why Third-Party Testing, Independent Certifications, and ISO Standards Matter

At AG1, quality is a system built on science, transparency, and accountability at every step: From ingredient sourcing to formulation, manufacturing to post-production testing, every batch of AG1 is held to a rigorous set of standards that exceed the norm.

In this article, we’re pulling back the curtain. What does third-party testing actually involve? Why do certifications like Kölner Liste® and Informed Choice matter? What’s an ISO-certified lab? And how can you tell if a product is truly clean and reliable? Let’s dive in.

First: What Do We Mean by ‘Quality’ in the Supplement World?

Quality in supplements is about more than just having ‘the right’ ingredients. At AG1, we define quality as:

• Identity: Each ingredient must be what we say it is. No substitutions, no fillers.
• Purity: Every batch must be tested for contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, or microbes.
• Potency: The amount of each ingredient must match the label claim.
• Consistency: Every batch needs to meet the same high standards.
• Transparency: You have the right to know what’s in your product, and how we tested it.

While this sounds obvious, many supplements on the market fall short in one or more of these areas. That’s why robust quality control processes are essential—especially when you're consuming a product daily.

The Limits of Regulation and the Role of Third-Party Testing

Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, dietary supplements in both the EU and the UK do not require pre-approval before hitting the market. That means the responsibility for safety, quality, and labelling falls on the manufacturer—and not every company takes this seriously.

Government bodies such as the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and FSA (Food Standards Agency) set rules around food supplements, but they rarely inspect or test products proactively. Instead, they act retroactively—stepping in only if a problem is reported.

That’s where third-party testing plays a crucial role. It acts as an external quality check, filling the regulatory gap and ensuring that claims are backed up by real data.

What Is Third-Party Testing?

Third-party testing means that an independent laboratory—not owned or paid by the supplement brand—carries out a range of scientific analyses on the product. This ensures:

• Impartiality: The lab has no vested interest in the product passing or failing
• Standardisation: Methods follow internationally recognised protocols
• Reproducibility: Results can be replicated and verified

Think of it as the nutritional world’s version of scientific peer review.

What Do Labs Actually Test For?

Let’s break down the core areas third-party labs evaluate:

1. Ingredient Identity

This confirms that each listed ingredient is authentic and correctly identified. Methods like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry, or DNA barcoding (for botanicals) are used to verify identity—and rule out adulteration or mislabelling.

2. Purity

Here, labs check for unwanted substances such as:

• Heavy metals like lead, mercury, or cadmium
• Pesticide residues from plant-based ingredients
• Microbial contamination (bacteria, mould, or yeasts)
• Residual solvents from ingredient extraction processes
• Undeclared allergens or pharmaceuticals

These can affect not only efficacy, but also safety.

3. Potency

This assesses whether the amount of each nutrient matches what the label claims. Inconsistent or sub-potent formulas are unfortunately common in the supplement world.

But potency isn’t just about truth in labelling. It’s also a legal and functional requirement for making health claims. In the EU and UK, you can only communicate the health benefits of a nutrient if it's present at a level high enough to meet official thresholds set by regulators. For example, you can’t claim that a product “contributes to normal energy metabolism” via vitamin B12 unless the formula contains a sufficient, bioavailable dose of that nutrient.

This is why robust potency testing matters. It ensures not only that you get what you're paying for—but that any claims made on the product are both scientifically valid and legally compliant.

4. Stability and Shelf-Life

While not always included in third-party testing, some brands (like AG1) go further to confirm that key nutrients remain stable over time. Because a daily supplement should deliver benefits not just today, but six months from now too.

What About Certifications? Why They Matter (and Why AG1 Has Them)

Certifications are independent stamps of approval from recognised third-party organisations. They go beyond lab testing to evaluate overall product safety, quality, and manufacturing practices.

Cologne List®

This is one of Europe’s most trusted databases for doping-free sports nutrition. Products listed here are tested for substances banned in professional sport—making it a go-to resource for athletes and informed consumers alike.

AG1 is listed on the Cologne List®, confirming that our product is free of substances prohibited by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and safe for competitive use.

Informed Choice

Operated by the globally respected LGC group, this certification is widely recognised in elite sport. It involves:

• Regular product testing for over 250 banned substances
• Audits of manufacturing facilities
• Ongoing batch testing to ensure compliance

ISO-Certified Labs: A Higher Standard of Testing

All of AG1’s third-party testing is conducted in ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories. That number might look technical—and it is—but it’s the gold standard for lab competence.

Here’s why it matters:

• Labs are audited by independent accreditation bodies
• Testing methods must be scientifically validated and documented
• Results must meet strict standards for accuracy, repeatability, and traceability

In other words, ISO certification ensures that labs aren’t just doing tests—they’re doing them right.

The Certificate of Analysis: Your Window Into What’s Inside

Every batch of AG1 is accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (CoA)—a document issued by our third-party lab partners that verifies the formula's composition and confirms the absence of contaminants.

A CoA typically includes:

• Ingredient identity and strength results
• Microbiological testing results
• Heavy metal and pesticide screening
• Pass/fail status for each quality marker

We publish these certificates here—because transparency should never be optional.

Why All This Matters (and Why So Few Brands Do It)

The supplement industry is crowded. But very few brands go to the lengths we do to guarantee quality, and even fewer are willing to be this transparent.

You shouldn’t have to be a scientist to feel confident about what you put in your body. But if you are curious—we’re ready to show you the science.

Your trust is everything to us. And we’ve built our quality systems to honour that. Find out more about our quality standards here.