Nutraceutical Heavy Metals Testing India | ICP-MS | NABL Accredited
A single failed heavy metal result on a health supplement can trigger FSSAI surveillance hold, e-commerce delisting across Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, and BigBasket, and an FBO licence review under the FSS Act. Backed by the Arbro Group's unbroken NABL accreditation since 2003, Auriga Research delivers ICP-MS heavy metals testing for nutraceuticals and dietary supplements at the parts-per-billion sensitivity required by FSSAI and pharmacopoeial limits.
Heavy metal control in nutraceuticals is governed by FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, FSMP, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations 2016, with botanical raw materials cross-referencing FSSAI Schedule VI, IP 2018, and USP <232> / ICH Q3D(R2) where supplements approach the pharmaceutical boundary. Our analytical scope covers the regulated four (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) plus extended panels with chromium, nickel, antimony, tin, and full 24-element ICH Q3D arrays. Arsenic speciation by HPLC-ICP-MS separates toxic inorganic arsenic from safe organic forms — critical for seaweed, kelp, and rice-based supplements.
Sample preparation uses microwave-assisted closed-vessel digestion with concentrated HNO3 + H2O2 to minimise volatile loss of mercury and arsenic and to avoid the cross-contamination that compromises open-beaker methods.
Testing Parameters
Each parameter is mapped to its validated method or pharmacopoeial reference so QA and regulatory teams can match scope to FSSAI / USP / IP requirements at a glance.
Lead (Pb)
AOAC 2015.01 ICP-MS at ppb sensitivity. FSSAI limit 3.0 mg/kg for finished health supplements; stricter limits apply to botanical raw materials.
Cadmium (Cd)
AOAC 2015.01 ICP-MS. FSSAI limit 1.0 mg/kg — particularly critical for cocoa-based, seaweed-derived, and root-extract nutraceuticals.
Arsenic (As)
AOAC 2013.06 ICP-MS for total arsenic. Inorganic-arsenic speciation by HPLC-ICP-MS available for seaweed, kelp, and rice-protein supplements.
Mercury (Hg)
AOAC 2013.06 with closed-vessel digestion. FSSAI limit 1.0 mg/kg — critical for fish oil, krill oil, and marine-source omega-3 supplements.
Chromium (Cr)
ICP-MS quantification — relevant for chromium picolinate supplements and weight-management nutraceuticals. Speciation (Cr III vs Cr VI) on request.
Nickel (Ni)
ICP-MS for trace nickel in mineral premixes, plant-based protein supplements, and chocolate-based formulations.
Tin (Sn)
ICP-OES quantification for canned liquid supplements and beverages — relevant where tinplate packaging or tin-stabilised formulations are used.
Antimony (Sb)
ICP-MS quantification for liquid supplements packaged in PET — antimony can leach from PET resins under heat and storage stress.
Arsenic Speciation
Separation of inorganic As (toxic) from organic arsenobetaine (safe). Required for FSSAI assessment of seaweed-, kelp-, and rice-based supplements.
ICH Q3D / USP <232>
Full 24-element elemental impurity panel for nutraceuticals at the pharma boundary — covers Cat 1, 2A, 2B, and 3 elements with PDE-based interpretation.
Sample Digestion
Microwave-assisted closed-vessel digestion with concentrated HNO3 + H2O2 — minimises volatile loss (Hg, As) and matrix contamination for ppb-level accuracy.
Pharmacopoeial Heavy Metals
IP / BP / USP heavy metals limit tests for nutraceutical products at the pharma boundary (e.g. iron tonics, multivitamin syrups, AYUSH-licensed supplements).
How It Works
Get a Quote
Share your product type and the parameters you need tested. Your dedicated SPOC will confirm the testing scope, the applicable method, and the exact sample quantity required for your specific panel before you dispatch anything.
Send Your Sample
Dispatch your sample with a completed Test Request Form to the nearest Auriga lab. Each sample is individually bar coded and registered in YLIMS, Auriga's in-house Laboratory Information Management System, upon receipt. Testing begins within 24 hours of sample registration.
Testing and QA Review
Your sample is tested against the confirmed validated method by Auriga's scientific team. Every result passes through a formal internal QA review and sign-off before the report is generated.
Receive Your NABL Report
Your NABL-accredited test report is delivered digitally within the committed turnaround time. Reports carry Auriga's NABL accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and are accepted by FSSAI under the Health Supplements Regulations 2016, BIS, and international buyers. You can track your sample status in real time through YLIMS at any point in the process.
Turnaround Time
| Panel | Standard TAT | Express |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI 4-element panel (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) | 5–7 working days | 3 days |
| Extended panel (8–12 elements incl. Cr, Ni, Sb, Sn) | 7–10 working days | On request |
| ICH Q3D / USP <232> 24-element array | 10–12 working days | On request |
| Arsenic speciation (inorganic vs organic) HPLC-ICP-MS | 7–10 working days | — |
| Single-element urgent (Pb or Hg only) | 3–5 working days | 24 hours on request |
Who Needs This Testing
- D2C health supplement and nutraceutical brands launching on Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Zepto, and BigBasket — all marketplaces now require heavy metals safety data before listing.
- Nutraceutical manufacturers preparing FSSAI Form B nutraceutical licence applications and renewals under the Health Supplements Regulations 2016.
- Herbal and botanical supplement brands needing extended heavy metals control on AYUSH-licensed or AYUSH-overlap SKUs (ashwagandha, turmeric, moringa, brahmi).
- Importers and contract manufacturers relabelling international supplements for India compliance — particularly fish oil, krill oil, and seaweed-based products.
- Brands contesting a marketplace delisting, FSSAI surveillance finding, or distributor dispute with an NABL-accredited counter-report.
- Sports nutrition, weight-management, and women's wellness brands with mineral premixes (iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium) needing trace heavy metal verification on each premix batch.
Why Auriga for Nutraceutical Heavy Metals
Unbroken NABL accreditation since 2003
Arbro Group has held NABL ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation continuously since 2003 — the audit trail FSSAI, marketplaces, and regulatory teams look for.
Dual NABL + FSSAI notification
Reports carry evidentiary weight under the FSS Act 2006 for nutraceutical licence applications, surveillance responses, and marketplace listing reviews.
Multiple ICP-MS units across the network
Five ICP-MS instruments across Delhi, Manesar, Bangalore, and Baddi — no partner-lab dependency, faster express turnaround, and capacity for ICH Q3D 24-element arrays.
Arsenic speciation in-house
HPLC-ICP-MS for inorganic vs organic arsenic — critical for seaweed, kelp, rice-protein, and marine-source supplement claims. Available where speciation is required to defend safety.
Five regional labs
Delhi, Gurugram, Bangalore, Baddi, and Bahadurgarh — closer to your factory or warehouse means lower sample-courier risk and faster despatch.
Express service for surveillance & launch
3-day express on the FSSAI 4-element panel; 24-hour single-element analysis on request — built for marketplace delisting recovery and FSSAI deadline windows.