For contract manufacturers seeking manufacturing certification, the risk of contamination with banned substances, especially those prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), remains a critical concern. The Informed Manufacturer programme was created by LGC, and is a member of the INFORMED family of certification programmes, globally recognised in quality assurance and testing of sports and dietary nutrition products, ingredients and facilities. It enables third-party supplement manufacturers to optimise quality control procedures and demonstrate their commitment to quality certification for manufacturing. This page outlines the four stages of the Informed Manufacturer certification process and answers common questions about eligibility, testing, and ongoing compliance.
Through years of research and analysis of more than 225,000 samples, LGC has identified that standard quality control practices may not be enough to stop cross-contamination with low levels of substances prohibited in sport. LGC’s expertise enables facilities to minimise the risk of cross-contamination occurring using a combination of facility testing and assessment.
Informed Manufacturer is a unique certification that provides an in-depth analysis of critical control processes. Through regular site audits and manufacturing facility swabbing, Informed Manufacturer helps first and third-party supplement manufacturers identify and resolve risk within their processes.
Ready for your manufacturing site to join our globally recognised certification programme? Click below to contact us and begin the path to Informed Manufacturer certification.
Please note that site certification does NOT mean that finished products have been tested. Informed Manufacturer certification does not involve any finished product testing, only that the site has committed to an ongoing assessment and swab testing in order to minimise cross-contamination of WADA prohibited substances.
How the Informed Manufacturer Certification Process Works
Stage 1: Site Audit for Manufacturing Certification
As the first step in achieving advanced manufacturing certification, a desk-based audit of your site is performed by experienced auditors who assess the site against the requirements of the Informed Manufacturer Global Standard. Completing the audit process helps sites identify and reduce the risk of cross-contamination with banned substances throughout their facilities.
Stage 2: Site Visit and Swab Testing
A member of the Informed Manufacturer team will visit your facility to assess compliance and take swab samples at critical control points as part of your manufacturer certification. The swabs are then tested at LGC for over 285 prohibited substances using validated analytical methods. You will receive a written report of findings that also includes any recommendations and/or non-conformities.
Download Our Certification Process Guide
Stage 3: Certification Completion, Logo Use and Web Listing
How Do I Use the Certification Once Approved?
Once any non-conformities from your stage two visit are closed out, the site will be accepted for certification with Informed Manufacturer and you will receive your certificate. From this point, your company is officially recognised as a certified manufacturer, with full use of the certification mark and listing in the Informed Manufacturer directory, where your profile will allow prospective customers to review your production capabilities as well as images of your facilities. We will send you the "Informed Manufacturer Brand Standards", which explains how the logo can be used and how best to market your new certification.
Stage 4: Recertification
Each year, a recertification audit will be performed, which includes the collection and testing of facility swab samples, a desk-based audit of the site and manufacturing policies and procedures. This annual review helps maintain your status as a certified supplement manufacturer and ensures continued compliance with Informed Manufacturer’s quality certification for manufacturing standards. Providing the site remains in conformance to the programme requirements, a new certificate will be issued following completion of the swab testing and audit, and listing on the Informed Manufacturer website will continue.