| Food safety management | 15% | Whether the production site operates a documented food safety system with hazard analysis, controls, corrective actions, and regular review. | Current site-specific certificates, scope and expiry dates; audit summary; hazard analysis and critical control point documentation where applicable. | Valid certification to a recognized food safety scheme, such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS Food Safety, or another scheme accepted by the buyer, supported by satisfactory audit results. |
| Product specification and consistency | 15% | Ability to meet the buyer’s agreed requirements for bloom strength, viscosity, pH, moisture, ash, particle size, appearance, and solubility. | Approved specification, recent certificates of analysis (COAs), test methods, sample testing, and batch-to-batch results. | Each lot meets the buyer-approved limits, with clear test methods and a documented process for investigating out-of-specification results. Limits should be agreed for the intended application rather than assumed to be universal. |
| Traceability and recall readiness | 12% | Ability to trace raw materials and finished gelatin by lot, and to identify affected shipments during a withdrawal or recall. | Lot coding examples, mock-recall records, raw-material traceability procedure, and documented retention of production and dispatch records. | Traceability links incoming materials, production batches, COAs, packaging, and dispatch records; a documented recall procedure is tested periodically. |
| Raw-material sourcing and species control | 12% | Declared animal species and source, segregation controls, supplier approval, and suitability for the buyer’s religious, regulatory, or end-use requirements. | Species and origin declarations, supplier approval records, segregation procedures, and applicable halal or kosher certificates from recognized certifying bodies. | Source and species are transparently documented and consistent with the product specification; certification is verified for the relevant product and manufacturing site when required. |
| Regulatory and export documentation | 10% | Readiness to meet destination-market requirements and provide accurate product, safety, and shipment documentation. | Product and ingredient statements, safety data where applicable, certificates of analysis, certificates of origin, health certificates when required, and export documents requested by the destination authority. | Documents are complete, current, consistent with the product and shipment, and prepared for the buyer’s destination market. Requirements are checked country by country. |
| Microbiological and contaminant controls | 10% | Controls for relevant microbiological hazards and contaminants, based on product type, intended use, and applicable regulations. | Risk-based testing plan, recent laboratory results, sampling procedure, laboratory accreditation details where relevant, and corrective-action records. | Results meet applicable legal requirements and the buyer’s agreed specification; testing frequency and methods are documented and risk-based. |
| Manufacturing capacity and continuity | 8% | Available capacity, production scheduling, maintenance, backup arrangements, and ability to manage demand changes. | Capacity statement, typical lead times, planned shutdown calendar, business continuity plan, and performance history for comparable orders. | Capacity and lead times are clearly stated, order commitments are supported by production planning, and continuity risks have documented mitigation plans. |
| Packaging, storage, and shelf life | 7% | Packaging integrity, food-contact suitability where required, protection from moisture, storage instructions, and shelf-life support. | Packaging specification, storage and handling guidance, shelf-life evidence, and inspection records for packaging materials and finished goods. | Packaging is appropriate for the product and transport route, with clear lot identification and storage conditions supported by product documentation. |
| Quality communication and corrective action | 6% | Responsiveness to technical questions, complaint handling, change notification, and investigation of quality issues. | Documented complaint procedure, sample investigation reports, change-control process, and agreed response times. | Issues are investigated systematically, root causes and corrective actions are documented, and buyers are notified of relevant specification or process changes. |
| Commercial and logistics reliability | 5% | Clarity of quotations, order terms, shipment planning, and ability to provide consistent delivery updates. | Written quotation, agreed Incoterms® rule and named place, payment terms, shipment records, and packaging or pallet details. | Terms are transparent, delivery commitments are realistic, and shipment documents align with the purchase order and destination requirements. |