Third-party testing
Third-party testing is quality testing of a supplement by an organization independent of the company that makes or sells it. Each testing program sets its own checks, so what a seal covers depends on the program.
What it means in practice
This entry defines the term. How to read a seal, and what each program checks, is in our guide to third-party testing.
In the US, FDA does not have the authority to approve supplements before they are marketed [2]. Manufacturers already carry testing duties of their own under the current good manufacturing practice rule. They must run at least one appropriate test or examination to confirm the identity of each dietary ingredient before use, unless FDA grants an exemption on petition [3]. They must also verify that finished batches, either every batch or a subset chosen by a sound statistical sampling plan, meet specifications for identity, purity, strength, composition and limits on contamination [3].
Third-party testing sits on top of those duties and is done by an outside organization. In a 2019 consensus statement on the US market, authors from the US Anti-Doping Agency, Major League Baseball, its players' association, UFC and the Uniformed Services University wrote that "no regulatory authority conducts or mandates a quality review before dietary supplements are sold," and that multiple companies offer testing and quality review programs to fill that gap [1]. The statement focuses on athletes and military service members, for whom banned substances in supplements are the main concern [1]. They added that each program has its own quality assurance system with varying testing components, and that it is difficult for consumers in sport and military settings to judge whether a given program reduces risks enough [1]. The statement is the authors' expert opinion, not a measured comparison of programs.
Why it matters when reading nootropics research
A testing seal is about the product: what is in it and what is not, as checked by that program. It is a separate question from whether an ingredient has shown an effect against placebo in controlled trials. A tested product and an untested one can contain the same ingredient with the same trial evidence behind it.
Because programs differ [1], the useful detail is which program tested which product, for what, and when.
References
- Eichner AK, Coyles J, Fedoruk M, et al. Essential Features of Third-Party Certification Programs for Dietary Supplements: A Consensus Statement. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2019.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. Updated August 27, 2026.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). 21 CFR 111.75 What must you do to determine whether specifications are met?. eCFR title 21 up to date as of 2026-11-09.