Supplement Certification Details

Banned Substances Control Group assists

responsible dietary supplement manufacturers that wish to assure their customers that their products do not contain dangerous banned substances. A product that bears the BSCG seal lets the customer know that the product has received BSCG Certification, the details of which are set forth below.

After every batch of a product seeking BSCG Certification is made, the manufacturer is responsible for collecting a representative sample of the
batch. The manufacturer then ships the sample of that batch to a state-of-the-art anti-doping research laboratory which has been designated by BSCG. The laboratory analyzes
the sample for categories of substances that are banned by organizations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Football League (NFL), and many other professional and amateur sports leagues.

The laboratory analyzes the sample using a validated method with low detection
limits (10 nanograms per gram for anabolic agents, 10 nanograms per gram for
stimulants) and reports to BSCG whether banned substances were found in the sample above the detection limits. Detection limits are critical in any such analytical method. Manufacturers and consumers alike should be wary of any analytical program that does not disclose the detection limits that it uses.

If the laboratory reports to BSCG that no substances were found in the sample above
the detection limit, BSCG issues a Certification to the manufacturer for the
batch from which the sample was taken. This Certification enables the manufacturer to place the BSCG seal on the packaging of the products created from the same batch. A manufacturer may not market any product to consumers bearing the BSCG seal unless the batch from which the product was made has received Certification from BSCG.

In the event the laboratory finds a banned substance in the sample, BSCG will immediately notify the manufacturer and take steps to remove the product from the marketplace. The manufacturer will not be able to claim Certification nor use the BSCG seal on that batch or any other batch of the product still under the manufacturer’s control. The product will not be eligible for future BSCG Certification, except in rare circumstances where the manufacturer can prove to the satisfaction of BSCG that it bore no responsibility and that sufficient affirmative steps have been taken to ensure its products are free of banned substances.