Quality Checklist Before Booking Your Next Guar Gum Shipment

Guar gum is an incredibly versatile hydrocolloid, but every application—from gluten-free bakery mixes to hydraulic fracturing—depends on consistent viscosity and clean microbiological results. The past year saw wider quality gaps across the Indian supply base as small mills re-entered export markets. This guide summarises the inspection steps we run with international buyers before they sign the commercial invoice.

Why a structured inspection matters

The easiest way to avoid detention charges or customer rejections is to align on testing scope before the first batch is produced. Working through the checklist below protects margins and accelerates customs clearance.

• Identify the end-use: food, pharma, pet food, or industrial drilling all stipulate different limits.
• Match viscosity grades (2500 cps, 5000 cps, 7000+ cps) to the finished formulation.
• Decide whether E412 (food grade) or technical grade documentation is required.

Lab tests buyers expect in 2025

Independent and in-house labs should validate the following parameters. Share the acceptance range in writing and ensure sample retention for each lot.

1. Viscosity: Brookfield 1% and 2% solution viscosity after 30 and 60 minutes, aligned with your product specification.
2. Moisture & ash: Moisture < 12%, acid insoluble residue < 4%, and ash < 1.2% for premium food applications.
3. Microbiology: Total plate count, yeast & mould, and pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli) with certificates from NABL or ISO 17025 laboratories.
4. Residues: Heavy metals and pesticide profiles for EU and North American buyers.

We dispatch lot-wise COAs within 24 hours of production. Buyers can opt for dual testing—our in-house lab and a third-party laboratory in Ahmedabad—for audit-ready documentation.

Packaging and labelling specs to confirm

• Use 25 kg HDPE laminated paper bags with food-grade poly liner; pharma buyers often upgrade to fibre drums.
• Request metal detection and magnet checks after packaging to control foreign matter.
• Print batch numbers, manufacturing date, best before, net weight, and storage instructions in English and the destination language where required.
• Ensure pallets are heat treated and include slip sheets to minimise load shift during transit.

Factory audit questions worth asking

Whether you visit the facility or conduct a remote audit, verify these fundamentals to gauge process control.

• How are raw guar splits graded and cleaned on arrival?
• What is the preventive maintenance schedule for hydration, flaking, and grinding equipment?
• Is there a documented allergen and foreign body management plan?
• Can the team trace every finished lot back to the farmer procurement record?

Sample approval workflow we recommend

1. Approve bench samples that match the target viscosity and colour.
2. Sign-off on a 2 kg pre-shipment sample sealed from the actual production lot.
3. Confirm inspection and loading schedule—Asia Agro Export can host SGS, Intertek, or buyer-appointed inspectors.
4. Receive digital copies of the full export document pack before the container sails.

Quality becomes predictable when your supplier is transparent with lab data, packaging controls, and audit readiness. Our team manages the checkpoints end-to-end so you can focus on downstream manufacturing.