To get chemical samples from India, send each supplier the same written specification and ask for a sample from a named production batch, with its COA and SDS. Then arrange shipping that suits the product's hazard class, and test the sample against your own limits.
Samples are cheap compared with a bad container. But they are only useful if they represent what the plant will actually ship.
What to ask for
- A sample from a regular production batch, not a specially purified lab sample.
- The batch number, written on the sample label and on the COA.
- The COA for that batch, with test methods and results.
- The SDS, so you and the courier know how to handle it.
- The TDS, if you have not already seen it.
- Enough quantity to run your full test programme and keep a retained portion.
Who pays and how it ships
Practice varies. Some plants send small samples free. Others ask you to cover courier costs, especially for hazardous products. Agree this before the sample is packed.
Shipping is the harder part. Many couriers accept only non-hazardous chemicals on their standard services, and dangerous goods need special handling. See shipping chemical samples safely for the rules in outline.
Testing the sample
Test the sample in your own lab, or an independent lab, against your specification. Use the same methods the supplier used where possible, so results are comparable. Then try it in your process or product. A sample that passes every test can still behave differently in use.
Compare samples from several suppliers side by side. Record what you received, from which batch, and how it performed. That record becomes your reference when the first order arrives.
The sample trap
A good sample does not guarantee a good order. Some sellers send their best material, or material from another plant, to win the business. The way to close this gap is to sample again from the production lot before loading, and compare the result with the first sample. Read why quality drops after the first container.
Keep part of the approved sample sealed. If a later lot is disputed, it is your physical reference. Our article on retention samples explains how to store it.
Recording the sample properly
Treat each sample as evidence. When it arrives, photograph the pack and label, note the date and condition, and record the batch number. Split the material: one part for testing, one part for process trials, and one part sealed and kept as a reference. Write down which tests you ran, by which method, and the results. If you approve the sample, send the supplier a written approval quoting the batch number and the key results. That record is what you will compare future lots against, and what you will rely on in any claim.
Next step
We collect samples from verified plants, tie them to real batches and arrange testing. Book a free sourcing review.