B2B guidance for procurement, product and food-service teams. Confirm specifications, dosage and compliance against the relevant batch documents and local market requirements.
COA vs TDS vs Certifications: What Ingredient Buyers Need
Suppliers use three different documents to describe an ingredient. Each answers a different question, and none replaces the others.
Buyers often ask for the documents as one bundle. It is more useful to know what each one is for, so you can ask for the right one at the right time and recognize when one is being offered in place of another.
What each document is
| Document | What it answers | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| TDS or specification | What the product is meant to be: parameters and limits | The product, across lots |
| COA | What this lot tested at | One specific lot |
| Certification | Whether a site, process or product was assessed by a third party | A named scope, with a validity period |
TDS or specification
The specification lists the parameters, such as moisture, particle size, microbiology and composition, with limits. It sets what you can reject against. Approve the specification before the first order.
Certificate of analysis
A COA reports the results for a particular lot, normally with the test methods. Check that it matches the lot on the delivery, that the parameters match the specification and that the date and the laboratory are stated. A COA is lot-specific; a sample COA does not describe your shipment.
Certifications
A certification says that an independent body assessed something against a standard, for example a production site against a food safety scheme or a product against an organic or religious-compliance standard. Always check the scope, which site and which product it covers, and the expiry date. A certification held by one supplier does not transfer to another, and one that cannot be documented should not be assumed.
Other documents you may need
- Ingredient and allergen statement.
- Country of origin and process description.
- Safety data sheet, where applicable.
- Shipping documents such as the commercial invoice and packing list.
Which documents are available varies by origin and production lot. Ask for the list when you request a quote and confirm what is current.
Organic freeze-dried açaí powder, exported worldwide.
Request the document list