IASC Certification

Inspection Criteria

For a company to pass the IASC inspection, they must meet the following criteria:

Source of aloe raw materials must be certified by the IASC.
Product Label and Company literature review must be completed.
Manufacturing records for the products to be certified will be reviewed by the inspector at time of visit.
Samples of the aloe raw material will be taken for analysis.
Production samples of the finished product will be taken for analysis.
Inspector will observe the manufacturing and filling of a standard size production run. The minimum batch size for certification is 55 gallons of product for liquids and 10 gallons for others. The certification program involves three separate areas:

(a) Complete review of labeling and literature used in reference to the aloe products. All labeling and literature must be submitted to the IASC office prior to the inspector visiting your production facility. This information will be reviewed for correctness as it applies to use of the IASC Seal of Certification. This review in no way implies acceptances by any state or federal governmental agencies. Artwork or labels must be submitted for certification purposes. The label itself is to be submitted as soon as it is available to speed up approval. This step assures the Council that what you commit to is what ends up in the final product. All literature, such as specification sheets and sales flyers should also be submitted for approval. Any changes to your label or literature is to be submitted and approved prior to being used. The IASC will accept artwork for labels or literature for approval. If we accept artwork, we will need the final label or literature sent to us within 60 days to assure that the final label or literature conforms to the approved artwork.

(b) A physical review by the IASC Certification Inspector of: The formulation used in manufacturing of the product, the manufacturing procedures used to make the product, the packaging, warehousing, storage, and inventory records concerning the products to be certified. The inspector will conduct an onsight visual inspection of an actual production and filling operation used in reference to the aloe products. The inspector will collect samples of the aloe raw materials used to manufacture the product as well as finished filled product taken off of the filling line. The samples will be used to determine the analytical criteria.

(c) Analytical analysis of the products to be certified: The products must meet all of the parameters for aloe content as defined by the IASC.

Terminology/Labeling Criteria

The proper use of Aloe. You need to identify Aloe as Aloe Vera Gel/Juice or Whole Leaf Aloe Vera.
The term mucopolysaccharide is incorrect and the term polysaccharide is to be used. Refer to the Mucoplysaccharide-Polysaccharide Position Statement from the IASC. If polysaccharide count is used, we will need a report from your laboratory for verification purposes.
If the term MPS is used, it must be followed with the following words in parenthesis (Methanol Percipitable Solids). MPS does not mean Mucopolysaccharide. Also refer to the above Polysaccharide Position Statement.
The term cold processed or one that has the same meaning can only be used if you can prove that the product is in fact cold processed. This means "without heat" from the raw material through the finished product production.
Organically grown statements or other claims regarding Aloe must be substantiated. For example, "organically grown" must be supported by the organic seal or certification from an authorized agency verifying organic certification.
Proper terms should be used that are approved by FDA and monitored by any regulatory agency. An IASC definitions brochure is enclosed for your use.
If your product is a concentrate or made from a concentrate, the words "from concentrate" must be used. This is an IASC and an FDA regulation.