Drop Manufacturer for Dietary Supplements

Two automated filling lines handle 10 ml to 100 ml bottles at 60 to 120 bottles per minute, depending on viscosity. Each line runs an inline checkweigher and torque tester. Typical monthly output is 2.4 to 3 million bottles when both lines run at capacity. Changeover between SKUs takes 4 to 6 hours, including a full clean-down and line clearance. This matters when a brand needs several flavours or strengths in one production window.

Primary packaging options include amber and clear glass, PET, and HDPE. Droppers are calibrated at 0.5 ml, 1.0 ml or custom marks. Tamper-evident bands, child-resistant closures and induction seals are all available. Secondary packing covers folding cartons, shrink sleeves and display trays. Bottles can be labelled with batch number, expiry date and country of origin in up to four languages. Cartonning is manual and semi-automatic, which suits runs from 1,000 to 50,000 units per SKU.

Drops are water-based, oil-based, glycerin-based or alcohol-based. Water-based systems suit B vitamins, vitamin C and mineral salts. Oil systems suit vitamins A, D, E, K and omega blends. Glycerin works well for herbal extracts and children's products where alcohol is not wanted. Liposomal formats are available for vitamin C and curcumin, though they carry a higher unit cost and a 500 kg minimum batch for the liposomal intermediate.

Flavouring and preservation are decided at sample stage. Natural flavours, stevia, monk fruit and citric acid adjust taste without adding sugar. Preservative systems can be potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, or a preservative-free route using a pH below 3.8 and hot-fill at 85 degrees Celsius. Stability testing runs at 25 and 40 degrees Celsius for 3 and 6 months. Ingredient certificates of analysis, allergen statements and non-GMO declarations are supplied with each batch. vegan claims are supported by supplier certificates and site audits.

Every batch is tested for appearance, pH, viscosity, fill weight, microbial limits and heavy metals. Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury are checked against USP and EU limits. Micro testing covers total plate count, yeast and mould, E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus. Retain samples are kept for shelf life plus 12 months. Batch records, deviation reports and certificates of analysis are issued before release. The facility is FDA-registered and audited annually against GMP and ISO 22000.

Shipping terms are FOB Shenzhen or Hong Kong, with EXW and CIF available. Standard carton counts are 48 to 100 bottles, depending on size. Air freight takes 5 to 8 days door to door; sea freight takes 22 to 35 days to US and EU ports. Documents supplied include commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, MSDS for liquids and, where required, halal certificates. Orders above 20,000 units can be split into two shipments to reduce upfront inventory.

Every drop batch is tested against a written specification before release. Incoming raw materials are sampled at 100% of containers for identity by FTIR or HPLC, and each active is assayed for potency. During production, in-process checks cover fill weight at the start, middle and end of each run, with a tolerance of ±2% on the target volume. Microbiological testing for total aerobic count, yeast and mould, E. coli and Salmonella is performed on the finished bulk and again on filled bottles from the first and last hour of the line.

Heavy metals are tested per batch using ICP-MS for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, with results compared to the limits in USP <232> or the destination market's requirements. For drops, preservative efficacy testing follows USP <51> or the equivalent when a multi-dose format is used. Disintegration testing is not applicable to liquid drops, but clarity, pH and specific gravity are recorded for every batch. All analytical methods are documented in the batch record and retained for at least five years.

A certificate of analysis (COA) is issued for each batch and includes the product name, batch number, manufacture and expiry dates, tests performed, specifications, results and the signature of the QC manager. Retention samples of every batch are stored at 25°C/60% RH and 30°C/65% RH for the full shelf life plus 12 months. Stability protocols follow ICH Q1A(R2) with real-time data at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, and accelerated data at 40°C/75% RH for six months.

Batch records are retained for five years and are available for customer review during audits. Deviations and out-of-specification results are investigated under a written CAPA procedure, and no batch is released without a completed review by quality assurance. This documentation package supports regulatory submissions in the EU, UK, US and Southeast Asia.

Drops are filled into amber or clear glass bottles, PET bottles or single-use sachets. Standard bottle sizes are 15 ml, 30 ml and 50 ml with dropper caps, tamper-evident rings and child-resistant closures where required. For stick packs and sachets, fill volumes range from 2 ml to 10 ml, with stick width from 20 mm to 30 mm. Blister packs are not used for liquids, but we can supply a carton with a blister-style insert for retail display. Label options include paper, PP and metallised stock with matt or gloss finish.

Labels are designed to meet FDA dietary supplement labelling requirements for the US market, including the Supplement Facts panel, serving size, amount per serving, percent daily value where applicable, and the statement 'These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.' For EU and UK markets, labels follow the relevant food supplement regulations with vitamin and mineral reference intakes. Lot and expiry coding is applied by inkjet or laser at the filling line, with a minimum character height of 1.5 mm and a format that includes the batch number, manufacture date and best-before date.

Cartons are specified with a minimum board grade of 300 gsm and are printed with the lot code and expiry date on the outer case. Standard carton dimensions are 40 x 30 x 25 cm, holding 48 bottles of 30 ml or 24 bottles of 50 ml. Pallets are 120 x 100 cm, stretch-wrapped and corner-protected, with a maximum load height of 1.8 m. For Amazon FBA, we apply FNSKU labels and poly-bag the bottles where required, and we can print and apply retail-ready carton labels with the product title, ASIN and expiration date.

Retail compliance support includes artwork review against the destination market's labelling rules, barcode verification to GS1 standards, and a pre-shipment check that the label content matches the approved artwork. We do not provide legal advice, but we flag any claim or ingredient name that may require substantiation or registration in the target country.

The minimum order quantity for custom drop formulations is 1,000 units per SKU for retail packaging, with a pilot run option of 1,000 units. Samples are produced in 7 to 10 working days after formulation and packaging specifications are approved. Sample costs are quoted per project and are typically credited against the first production order. Mass production runs 20 to 35 working days after sample approval, depending on bottle and label availability and whether the formula requires stability testing before release.

Shipping is arranged by air or sea. Air freight from Guangdong to Europe or North America takes 5 to 8 days door to door, while sea freight takes 25 to 35 days to major ports. We quote EXW, FOB Shenzhen or Hong Kong, and DDP for select destinations. For DDP, we handle customs clearance and duties, and the buyer receives the goods at the named place. We do not ship to markets where the product format is not permitted without prior written confirmation from the buyer.

Documents provided with each shipment include the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of analysis for each batch, material safety data sheet (MSDS) where applicable, and a free-sale certificate issued by the relevant authority on request. For plant-based ingredients, a phytosanitary certificate can be arranged if the destination country requires it. Certificates of origin are available for preferential tariff treatment under applicable trade agreements.

Payment terms are 30% deposit with the balance against the bill of lading, or a letter of credit for orders above USD 50,000. We recommend booking sea freight at least 14 days before the production completion date to avoid port congestion surcharges. All lead times are estimates and are confirmed in the proforma invoice.