One check per labelA label never summarises a whole product.
Same meaning everywhereIdentical criteria for every brand.
Text carries the meaningColour is a visual aid only.
Confirmed labels
| Label | What it means | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Batch COA reviewed | A batch-specific laboratory report has been read and checked | Named laboratory, batch number, test date, numerical results with units |
| Identity verified | The product we received is the product the documents describe | Batch number on the jar matches a reviewed report |
| Authenticity verified | The product meets our documentation-based authenticity criteria | Identity verified, a batch-matched report from an accredited laboratory, and documented origin and processor |
| Origin documented | Source region and processor are documented | Named origin and named extraction or processing business |
| Purchase and fulfilment verified | We ordered the product and it was delivered | A completed test purchase, recorded |
In-progress and caution labels
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Awaiting documents | We have asked for, or not yet received, a document needed for this check |
| Further testing suggested | Testing so far is in order, and an additional test would add useful detail (for example, inorganic arsenic speciation) |
| Methodology pending | Data exists, but how it was collected hasn’t yet been published |
| Incomplete testing | A test a buyer would reasonably expect, such as metals or microbiology, is missing |
| Result above limit | A reported result exceeds a legal maximum level, such as the GB limits for lead, cadmium or mercury in supplements[1] |
What labels don’t say
- Not health claimsNo label says a product works. Health evidence is rated separately, for shilajit in general, on our evidence rating system.
- Batch-specificA label applies to the batch named in the evaluation. New batches are reviewed as their reports are published.
- Documentation-based authenticity“Authenticity verified” rests on the documents and the batch match; home tests can’t prove authenticity. See real vs fake shilajit.
How labels change
A label moves when the evidence does: a new report can turn “Awaiting documents” into “Batch COA reviewed”, and a later batch with a missing test can turn it into “Incomplete testing”. Every change is recorded on the updates log. You can see the labels in use on the brands hub.
Sources & further reading
Primary research, regulators and standards bodies are cited first. A source being listed here does not mean it supports every claim made by sellers; it supports the specific statement it is attached to.
- European Commission (UK version on legislation.gov.uk). Commission Regulation (EC) No 629/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. legislation.gov.uk, 2008. View source (opens in a new tab) [UK legislation (retained)]