| 1 | Origin and supply-chain traceability | Confirm where the salt was harvested and whether the China-based supplier is a processor, blender, or repacker rather than the source of the Dead Sea mineral. | Request source-country documentation, purchase records, lot-level traceability, and a written description of processing steps. | “Made in China” does not establish Dead Sea origin. Origin and processing claims should be substantiated for the destination market. |
| 2 | Raw-material identity and composition | Check the stated ingredient identity, mineral composition, moisture, and whether the product contains added fragrance, colorants, or other ingredients. | Review a current specification and lot-specific certificate of analysis (COA); confirm that test methods and units are stated. | Composition and ingredient declarations may affect product labeling, safety assessment, and customs documentation. |
| 3 | Contaminant and microbiological controls | Assess risk-based testing for relevant heavy metals, foreign matter, and microbiological quality, particularly for fragranced or blended products. | Ask for recent test reports from a competent laboratory, sampling details, acceptance limits, and corrective-action records for failures. | Testing needs depend on formulation, intended use, and destination-market rules; a generic COA alone may not cover all risks. |
| 4 | Manufacturing and quality systems | Review controls for incoming materials, blending, filling, packaging, batch release, complaints, and product recall. | Request a quality manual or audit summary and check the scope and validity of any claimed certification, such as ISO 22716 for cosmetics GMP. | A certificate should be verified with its issuer and checked against the actual site and product activity; it is not a substitute for regulatory compliance. |
| 5 | Product classification and claims | Agree on intended use and review all packaging, website, and advertising claims before production. | Have a regulatory reviewer assess the final formula, directions, and claims for each destination market. | Classification depends on product presentation and claims. Therapeutic claims can trigger requirements beyond those for ordinary bath products. |
| 6 | Destination-market compliance | Confirm the supplier can provide information needed for the importer’s obligations in the target country or region. | For EU sales, assess applicable cosmetics requirements, including safety assessment, responsible-person arrangements, and notification where relevant. For US sales, assess applicable MoCRA obligations and exemptions. | Requirements depend on classification, role in the supply chain, product, and market. FDA registration or listing, where applicable, is not FDA approval. |
| 7 | Labeling and packaging readiness | Check ingredient naming, net quantity, batch identification, warnings, directions, language, and required importer or responsible-person details. | Approve market-specific artwork and a physical pre-production sample; verify packaging compatibility and moisture protection. | Label rules vary by destination. Do not rely on a supplier’s standard label as proof that it meets local requirements. |
| 8 | Customs classification and shipping documents | Confirm the product description, ingredient details, country-of-origin information, and commercial shipping documents are consistent. | Request a draft invoice, packing list, and certificate-of-origin arrangements where applicable; confirm tariff classification with a customs broker or authority. | The correct HS classification and import duties depend on product composition, form, use, and destination; avoid assuming a universal code. |
| 9 | Capacity, lead time, and order terms | Compare minimum order quantity, sample time, production lead time, monthly capacity, payment terms, and procedures for changes or delays. | Obtain a written quotation with Incoterms® rule and named place, production schedule, tolerances, and agreed specifications. | Clear written terms help allocate freight, insurance, export clearance, and delivery responsibilities. |
| 10 | Auditability and supplier reliability | Verify the legal entity, production address, subcontractors, communication practices, and willingness to support audits and corrective actions. | Use a site audit or independent inspection, validate business records, and require written change-control and complaint-response procedures. | The entity receiving payment, the contracting party, and the actual production site should be clearly identified in due diligence and contracts. |