Cod liver oil is one of the oldest and steadiest health supplements on pharmacy shelves, from Lagos and Accra to Dubai, Nairobi and London. If you plan to sell it under your own brand, the first step is to find the right cod liver oil softgel manufacturer. This guide explains how to source private label cod liver oil softgels from India for export and for the Indian market.
It is written for brand owners, importers, distributors and private label sellers who buy manufacturing, not for shoppers. It covers where the demand is, the strengths and specifications to choose, vitamin A and D levels, gelatin and Halal choices, packs, registration rules in key markets, the documents an importer needs, and a short brief you can send to a softgel and health supplement manufacturer for a quotation.
Where the Demand Is
Google Ads data shows these average monthly searches (October 2025 to September 2026). They are shopper searches, but they show a brand owner where cod liver oil already sells:
| Market | "cod liver oil capsules" | "cod liver oil" |
|---|---|---|
| India | about 12,100 (up to 18,100 in August 2026) | about 40,500 |
| United Kingdom | about 5,400 | about 18,100 |
| Nigeria | about 1,600 | about 6,600 |
| Ghana | about 390 | about 1,600 |
| UAE | about 320 | about 1,600 |
| Kenya | about 110 | about 1,300 |
The demand is steady all year, and in West Africa many shoppers search for "capsules" rather than "softgels". That matters for your label and your listings: use the words your buyers use.
Choosing a Cod Liver Oil Softgel Manufacturer: Four Business Models
| Model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Private label / white label | You choose a standard cod liver oil softgel (for example 500 mg or 1,000 mg) and put your brand on it. | New brands and fast launches |
| Third party manufacturing | The manufacturer makes, fills and packs in its own facility; you market and sell. | Brands that do not want to run a factory |
| Contract manufacturing | You send your own specification (strength, vitamin A and D levels, shell, pack) and the manufacturer makes it to that. | Importers with a registered product |
| OEM / ODM | The manufacturer develops the product from your brief, for example cod liver oil with added vitamins or a different shell. | Brands that want a different product |
If you already sell a registered product, give the manufacturer your exact registered specification, and ask your regulatory adviser whether a change of manufacturer needs an update to the registration. At Infy Life Science, a formula you give us stays yours.
What to Specify for Private Label Cod Liver Oil Softgels
- Strength: 300 mg, 500 mg or 1,000 mg of cod liver oil per softgel are the common choices. Any other strength can be made on request.
- Vitamin A and vitamin D: state the amount per softgel you need. At Infy Life Science, vitamin A and D levels are set to your specification, so they can match your registration and your market's limits.
- Omega-3 content: say whether you want EPA and DHA declared on the label, and at what level.
- Shell: Halal-certified bovine gelatin or Halal-certified fish gelatin. Some importers prefer fish gelatin so the whole product comes from the sea.
- Shape, size and colour: oval, oblong or round, any fill size, any shell colour on request.
- Flavour: if you want a flavoured product, ask for the flavour's Halal status and its effect on stability.
- Pack: HDPE or PET bottles, blister packs, alu-alu packs or bulk packing. Blisters suit pharmacy sales by the strip; bottles suit retail and online.
Cod liver oil is not the same as ordinary fish oil. Cod liver oil comes from cod livers and carries vitamin A and D, while a standard fish oil softgel is sold on its EPA and DHA grade (for example 18/12 or 30/20). Write "cod liver oil" in your specification and ask for the raw oil's certificate of analysis. If you need a fish oil grade instead, see our omega-3 fish oil page and our omega-3 fish oil softgel guide.
Plan for the 2026-2027 Fish Oil Market
Marine oil supply is tight. In October 2026, Nutrition Insight reported that the marine ingredients body IFFO saw its members' fish oil output down 26% on 2025, and expects 2026 to have the lowest fishmeal and fish oil supply since 2016. Aker BioMarine warned that omega-3 demand could outstrip crude fish oil supply as early as 2027.
For a brand owner, this means: fix your specification early, share a yearly volume forecast with your manufacturer so oil can be planned, and agree how price changes in raw oil will be handled before you sign. A buyer who orders in a rush pays the most.
Registration and Label Rules in Key Export Markets
- Nigeria: products must be registered with NAFDAC before they are imported or sold. NAFDAC's draft Dietary Supplement Regulations, 2025 also say nutrients must not be at therapeutic levels, that labels must carry the words "Dietary Supplement", the daily dose and warnings, and that disease claims are not allowed. Set your vitamin A and D levels with this in mind, and check the final rules with your regulatory adviser.
- Ghana: products are registered with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA Ghana), usually by the local importer with the manufacturer's dossier.
- Kenya: ask your importer whether the product is handled by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) or another authority; this depends on how it is classified.
- Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar): importers usually ask for a Halal certificate, English and Arabic labels and product registration with the local authority.
- UK and Europe: cod liver oil is sold as a food supplement, and vitamin amounts and label wording must meet local rules. The brand owner usually checks this with a local adviser.
- India: health supplements fall under the FSSAI Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals Regulations, 2016.
In every market, keep the label free of medicinal or disease claims. Infy Life Science provides the product registration dossier for the buyer's country, for example for NAFDAC in Nigeria, PPB in Kenya or the Gulf authorities.
Documents an Importer Should Ask For
- Batch Certificate of Analysis (COA) and the product specification
- Stability data to support your shelf life
- Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) and Certificate of Origin (COO)
- Copies of the WHO-GMP, ISO 22000:2018, HACCP, Halal and Kosher certificates
- Halal certificate of the gelatin
- The registration dossier for your country
Infy Life Science makes softgels in its own facility near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and provides all of these for export orders. We have exported softgels to the Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman), Africa (Nigeria, Kenya and others), Asia (Bangladesh, the Philippines and others), Europe, North America, Australia and Canada.
MOQ, Samples and Lead Time
- Minimum order: 30,000 softgels for gelatin softgels.
- Samples: free samples before you order.
- Lead time: a first order is usually ready 3 to 4 weeks after artwork approval.
- Capacity: up to 1 lakh (100,000) softgels per batch.
More on shells, fills and quality checks is in our softgel manufacturer buyer's guide, and our standard product is on the cod liver oil softgel capsules page.
Ten Questions to Ask a Cod Liver Oil Softgel Manufacturer
- Is the fill true cod liver oil, and can I see the raw oil's COA?
- Can you set vitamin A and D per softgel to my registered levels?
- Will EPA and DHA be tested and shown on the batch COA?
- Is the gelatin bovine or fish, and is it Halal certified?
- Do you make softgels in your own facility, or do you outsource?
- What stability data do you have for the shelf life I want?
- Which export documents and registration dossier can you give for my country?
- What is the MOQ, and can I get free samples first?
- How long from artwork approval to dispatch?
- How will raw oil price changes be handled on repeat orders?
A Brief to Send for a Quotation
Copy this list into your email. The more you fill in, the faster and more accurate the quotation will be:
- Strength per softgel (300 mg, 500 mg, 1,000 mg or other)
- Vitamin A and vitamin D per softgel, and EPA / DHA if you want them declared
- Shell: bovine or fish gelatin; shape and colour
- Business model: private label, third party, contract or OEM / ODM
- Pack: bottle, blister, alu-alu or bulk, and count per pack
- Quantity for the first order and expected yearly volume
- Country of sale and the registration status of your product
- Your target launch date
Frequently Asked Questions
What strengths of cod liver oil softgels can you make?
300 mg, 500 mg and 1,000 mg are standard, and any other strength can be made on request.
Can you match my vitamin A and D levels?
Yes. Vitamin A and D levels are set to your specification, so they can match your registration and the limits in your market.
Is the softgel shell Halal?
Yes. Our gelatin softgels use Halal-certified bovine or fish gelatin, and our facility holds Halal and Kosher certificates.
What is the minimum order for private label cod liver oil softgels?
30,000 softgels. We send free samples first, and a first order is usually ready 3 to 4 weeks after artwork approval.
Do you help with NAFDAC or Gulf registration?
We provide the product registration dossier, COA, specification, stability data, Certificate of Free Sale and Certificate of Origin. The registration itself is usually filed by your local importer or agent.
Request a Quotation
Send your brief and we will reply with options, samples and a quotation, or send an enquiry.
- Email ID: info@infylifescience.com
- Call & WhatsApp: (+91) 9023933030
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Infy Life Science Team
Sharing perspectives on Omega-3, nutraceutical manufacturing and product science.
