Measures foreign matter such as stalks, stones, dust and other extraneous material.

A common check in tea and spice specifications.

Often used for: Tea, spices.

How it works

1. Tell us the product, the lot or supplier if you know it, and the destination market.
2. We reply with the laboratory, the test method, the turnaround and the full cost. We say whether the test is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited at that lab.
3. A sample is drawn from the lot and delivered to the lab.
4. The laboratory issues its report in its own name, directly to you.

Priced per sample, not per kilo, so testing 100 grams costs the same as testing a container. Nothing is charged until you approve the quote. You can also name a laboratory yourself, including one in your own country.

How lab testing and COAs work

What to send us

• The product, for example black tea or whole pepper
• The lot number or supplier, if you know it
• The destination market, and any limit your buyer or regulator sets
• Whether you want a specific laboratory, including one in your own country

When to test

Test before shipment, when the lot is packed and ready. A result then describes the goods you will receive. For tea, many buyers compare the result with the extraneous matter limit in their purchase contract. For spices, importers often check it against the cleanliness limits used in their market. If a lot fails, you know before it ships, not after it lands.

Reading the result

The report gives the amount of foreign matter found in the sample, usually as a percentage by weight, and names the method used. Keep it with the shipping documents for that lot.

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