The table below summarizes their main differences and significance, which can help you quickly understand them:
Authentication Name | Core nature and significance | Key features and advantages | Key value to consumers |
IFOS (International Standard for Fish Oil) | Currently, it is the world's most stringent third-party independent testing and certification, with "five-star certification" being the highest level. | Independent and impartial: Does not represent the interests of any manufacturer. Stringent standards: Testing limits far exceed the requirements of WHO, FDA, and regulations of many countries. Comprehensive testing: Covers four dimensions: purity, potency, freshness, and stability. Open and transparent: All testing data can be publicly accessed on the official website. | It provides a "one-stop" authoritative quality guarantee, especially in terms of contaminants, heavy metals, and oxidized freshness, giving people a high degree of peace of mind. |
GOED (Global EPA and DHA Omega-3 Organization) | An industry self-regulatory organization composed of companies within the industry (raw material suppliers, brand owners, etc.). | Industry benchmark: Establishing voluntary quality standards (GOED Monograph) that exceed the regulations of most countries. Member self-discipline: Participating brands commit to ensuring their products meet these quality standards. | This means that the manufacturer has higher self-standards for quality, which is a strong background reference when choosing products. |
How to Understand the Practical Role of Certification
These two certifications provide solid quality assurance for fish oil raw materials and products:
IFOS Five-Star Certification: Requires each batch of product to be tested, and all items must meet the standards to obtain a five-star rating. This means that the product not only has sufficient content of active ingredients (EPA, DHA) and no false labeling, but also far exceeds the safety baseline in terms of contaminants such as heavy metals, PCBs, and dioxins, as well as freshness indicators such as peroxide value.
GOED Standards and Membership: GOED itself does not directly certify specific products, but its standards are important quality benchmarks in the industry. Choosing a GOED member means that the manufacturer is committed to adhering to its strict specifications for ingredients, purity, and freshness.
Some top fish oil raw material suppliers (such as KD Pharma in Germany and Solutex in Spain) often have products that are both IFOS certified and comply with GOED standards.
How to Search and Use This Information
When purchasing fish oil, you can do the following:
Verify Certification: For products claiming IFOS certification, you can visit the IFOS official website, enter the brand or product name, and search for its publicly available test reports and star ratings. For products claiming to meet GOED standards or be members, verification can be done through the GOED website's member list.
Distinguishing between "raw material certification" and "finished product certification": This is a crucial point. Many brands use raw materials certified by IFOS, but the final product (the capsules you buy) may not have been tested. From a consumer perspective, prioritize brands whose "finished products" are also IFOS certified, meaning the quality of the entire process from raw materials to packaging has been verified.
As an important reference, not the sole standard: These international certifications are strong evidence of a product's safety and efficacy, but other factors should also be considered when purchasing, such as Omega-3 concentration, raw material source (e.g., whether it's from small fish), and additional product testing (e.g., plasticizer testing).
In short, certifications like IFOS and GOED set extremely high quality standards for fish oil raw materials. They are like an "internationally recognized medical report" and "quality commitment," helping you quickly identify products that stand the test of safety, purity, and efficacy in a complex market.
