Introduction
For an OEM fish oil softgel, ask for the exact oil grade, a written statement of its chemical form, and a certificate of analysis (COA) tied to the proposed raw-oil lot. If you want to print “rTG,” also ask for a processing declaration that identifies the grade as re-esterified. A triglyceride test can support the oil’s current chemical form, but a triglyceride result alone may not establish how the supplier made it. Keep these documents separate from the EPA and DHA assay and from the finished softgel release record.
Bodakang Bio accepts fish oil softgel project inquiries. Specify the oil form your project needs and ask what can be supplied and documented for that project. Availability, composition, and document scope depend on the proposed grade.
Match the wording to the evidence
TG means triglyceride, also called triacylglycerol. In triglycerides, fatty acids are attached to a glycerol backbone. rTG describes a triglyceride oil made by re-esterification. It is a triglyceride form with an additional statement about processing history. EE means ethyl ester, in which fatty acids are esterified to ethanol. These names describe identity. “Concentrated” describes composition, while “purified” describes processing in general terms. Neither word establishes the chemical form.
| What the quote or label says | Ask the supplier for | What to verify before signing off |
|---|---|---|
| Triglyceride or TG | Grade specification that names the lipid class and form-specific evidence where needed | The report covers that grade and identifies what the method measures. If the wording also says “natural” or “non-re-esterified,” ask for evidence of the process history. |
| Re-esterified triglyceride or rTG | Grade specification, a processing declaration tied to that grade, and suitable form evidence | The declared processing route supports “re-esterified.” A report that lists only “TG” leaves the processing question open. |
| Ethyl ester or EE | Grade specification naming the EE form and a relevant test or identity statement | The documents identify the supplied oil as EE. Do not infer it from a high EPA and DHA value. |
| Concentrate or purified fish oil | Exact grade, form declaration, and EPA and DHA specification and assay | Record concentration and oil form as separate fields. A generic marketing description leaves the form unresolved. |
For a laboratory result, check what sample was tested, whether the method distinguishes lipid forms, how the result is expressed, and which grade or lot the report covers. Ask what the procedure can establish on the material as received. A fatty-acid composition result obtained after conversion to a common derivative can quantify EPA and DHA on the specified reporting basis without identifying the original lipid form. If the supplier says its assay does both, ask it to identify the separate identity result and its method.
Tie the evidence to the oil in your softgel
- At quote stage, name the grade. Record the supplier’s exact material code, specification revision, fish species or documented species range, and origin information available for that grade. Ask for a representative COA to see the proposed reporting format. Keep it marked as a sample record until you receive the lot-specific version.
- Before artwork, resolve the label wording. Match each planned claim to a document. If the form is mandatory, put the exact wording on the purchase specification. If multiple forms can be considered, ask for separate offers and mark the form as a choice to resolve before artwork approval.
- At material release, match the lot. Compare the delivered lot identifier with the raw-oil COA, receiving record, and agreed specification. Request EPA and DHA results separately, with units and the measurement basis. If a specification is in percent and the COA uses mg/g, have the supplier confirm that both use a comparable basis before reconciling the values.
- At finished-product release, link the batches. Ask how the raw-oil lot is mapped to the finished softgel batch and how the finished product’s per-softgel or per-serving declarations will be supported. A bulk-oil COA covers the oil described on that record. Finished-unit evidence and the batch link are separate parts of the file.
Use a short comparison sheet with one row per quote: supplier and grade | required oil form | document and revision | process evidence | raw-oil lot and COA | EPA and DHA basis | finished-batch link | open item | decision owner. Mark each row as confirmed, pending or declined. If two offers promise the same EPA and DHA amount but one leaves the oil form open, keep them separate until the form question is closed.
Keep substitutions visible
Put any approved material code and oil form into the purchase specification. Ask the supplier to notify you before changing the grade, oil form, declared source or other agreed identity field. A change can affect the evidence supporting the artwork even if the quoted EPA and DHA values stay the same. Recheck the documents against the new grade and decide whether an updated sample or revised artwork is needed. For shell, fill and packaging discussions, see softgel capsule OEM services.
Buyer questions
Does a TG result prove the oil is rTG?
It can support that triglycerides were found in the sample under the method used. To support the re-esterified claim, ask for the processing history of the quoted grade as well.
Can I work out the oil form from EPA and DHA potency?
No. EPA and DHA amounts answer a composition question. Use a form statement and suitable identity evidence to answer the separate form question.
Can I use a COA from a representative lot for my order?
Use it to check the proposed fields and method. Request the record for the lot actually supplied and its traceability to the finished batch.
What should I send for a document-ready quote?
Send your destination market, required or acceptable oil form, target EPA and DHA per softgel or serving, and the exact proposed label wording. Include the required documents, packaging and estimated order size. Send your fish oil softgel brief to Bodakang Bio and mark which items must be agreed before sampling or artwork.
