Why third-party testing matters in agricultural export

A supplier's own test report is useful. An independent one is better evidence. The difference is who has an interest in the answer.

Two different things

Laboratory testing measures the product's properties: moisture, microbiology, heavy metals, pesticide residues and similar parameters. The result is a certificate of analysis, usually called a COA. Inspection checks the cargo: quantity, packing, marking, condition and sampling at loading. Inspection companies draw samples, supervise loading and issue an inspection report.

What independence gives you

• Credibility. A third party has no stake in the sale.
• A reference point. If you and the supplier disagree on quality, an agreed independent result settles it.
• Lot-specific evidence. A generic certificate says what a product usually is. A lot-specific one says what this lot is.
• Early warning. A problem found before loading is cheaper than one found in your warehouse.

What to look for in a laboratory

In India, laboratories accredited by NABL, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, are a common benchmark. Internationally, look for accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. Ask which parameters are within the laboratory's accredited scope, and which methods it uses.

What to write into the contract

1. The parameters to be tested and the limits.
2. Who chooses the laboratory or inspection company. Well-known inspection companies operate in the main Indian ports.
3. Who pays.
4. How samples are drawn and sealed, and how many are kept.
5. What happens if results differ: a retained sample, an umpire laboratory, or a price adjustment.

For first orders

Ask for a pre-shipment sample with a COA, test it yourself, and consider independent inspection at loading. It is a small cost against the value of a container, and it makes later orders easier.

Where DVG stands

We make lab reports and certificates of analysis available on request. We list certifications only when they are in place. See our quality and documentation process.