Short answer
Verify certification, real capacity, and who owns the formula before you compare price. Those three determine whether you can legally sell, whether they can actually deliver your volume, and whether you are building an asset or renting one.
Certification is table stakes: ISO 22716 and GMPC for the manufacturing system, plus the ability to produce the documentation your target market requires — a product information file for EU CPNP, facility and product documentation for US MoCRA. Ask to see the certificates and test reports, not a logo on a website.
Capacity claims deserve scepticism. Ask which lines actually run your category, what the sampling and mass-production lead times are in writing, and whether you can audit. A supplier who will not let you see the floor is telling you something.
Finally, get MOQ and price tiers in writing, including packaging print minimums, which are the most common source of a first-order surprise.
Side-by-side comparison
| Check | What to ask | Green flag |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing certification | Copies of ISO 22716 / GMPC certificates | Originals shown, verifiable |
| Market compliance | Can you produce the CPNP / MoCRA documentation I need? | Yes, with examples |
| Real capacity | Which lines run eye care? What are actual lead times? | Specific numbers, in writing |
| Formula ownership | Who owns a custom formula I pay to develop? | You do, in writing |
| MOQ honesty | What is the MOQ, and what are the packaging print minimums? | Both stated up front |
| Sampling policy | How many sample rounds, and is the fee credited? | Clear policy |
| Audit access | Can I audit on site or by video? | Both offered |
| Stability and testing | Do you run stability and microbiology in-house or externally? | Either, with reports |
| Communication | Who answers technical questions — sales or formulators? | Formulators reachable |
When to choose which (and when not to)
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Certificates cannot be shown | You may not be able to register the product at all |
| No fixed lead times in writing | Delivery risk lands on your launch date |
| Supplier owns your custom formula | You cannot change supplier later |
| MOQ quoted without packaging minimums | Your real minimum will be higher |
| No audit access | Hides capacity or compliance problems |
| Sales-only technical contact | Formulation promises made by people who do not formulate |
| Price drops dramatically under pressure | Usually means specification or material substitution |
Frequently asked questions
How many suppliers should I compare?
Three is enough for a first launch. More than that and the sampling cycle itself becomes the bottleneck.
Should I visit the factory?
If your order is meaningful, yes — or at minimum a live video audit covering raw material intake through finished goods.
What is a reasonable sampling fee policy?
Stock formula samples are often free or at cost. Custom development may carry a fee that is credited against your production order.
How do I compare two quotations fairly?
Put them on the same specification: same formula, same substrate, same packaging, same quantity, same compliance scope. Price differences usually turn out to be specification differences.
Formulating an eye-care product?
Send your target market, dosage form and estimated quantity — we reply with formulation advice, MOQ tiers, compliance notes and samples.
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EyeOEM · Eye-Care OEM/ODM R&D & Manufacturing · 2026-09-11 · sales@eyeoem.com