A certificate is only as trustworthy as the organisation that issued it. Saffron is one of the most certificate-abused commodities in the world — it is not unusual to find forged lab reports attached to adulterated product. This is why ISO 3632, developed by the International Organization for Standardization, is built around a specific analytical methodology that cannot be faked with a desktop printer.
What ISO 3632 Actually Is
ISO 3632 is a two-part international standard:
- ISO 3632-1:2011 — Specification: defines the categories, terminology, moisture limits, and physical requirements for dried saffron in stigmas, cut saffron, and powdered saffron.
- ISO 3632-2:2010 — Test methods: the laboratory procedures used to measure the three key chemical markers.
The standard was developed with input from the major saffron-producing nations (Iran, Spain, India, Afghanistan) and major importing markets (EU, USA, Japan). It is the only internationally recognised benchmark for saffron quality.
Infographic — ISO 3632 Category Thresholds
| Category | Crocin (A₄₄₀) | Safranal (A₃₃₀) | Picrocrocin (A₂₅₇) | Max Moisture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SaffronoorSuper Negin | 260–290 | 30–45 | 85–95 | < 8 % |
| ISO Cat. I (min) | ≥ 190 | 20–50 | ≥ 70 | ≤ 10 % |
| ISO Cat. II (min) | ≥ 150 | 20–50 | ≥ 55 | ≤ 10 % |
| ISO Cat. III (min) | ≥ 110 | 20–50 | ≥ 40 | ≤ 10 % |
A = Absorbance. Values measured per 100 ml of saffron extract using UV-Vis spectrophotometry.
The Three Tests in Detail
1. Crocin — Spectrophotometry at 440 nm
A precisely weighed sample of saffron (typically 0.1 g) is dissolved in water and filtered. The resulting extract is placed in a spectrophotometer — an instrument that measures how much light of a specific wavelength the solution absorbs. Crocin absorbs maximally at 440 nm (yellow-green light), and the absorbance reading becomes the Crocin score. This cannot be replicated without the actual compound; no paper certificate can stand in for the physical measurement.
2. Safranal — Spectrophotometry at 330 nm
Safranal absorbs UV light at 330 nm. The same extract used for Crocin measurement is read at this second wavelength to produce the Safranal score. The ISO standard defines an acceptable range (20–50) rather than a minimum, because extremely high Safranal (above 50) can indicate either very fresh saffron or, sometimes, adulteration with added safranal extract — hence the upper limit.
3. Picrocrocin — Spectrophotometry at 257 nm
The third reading, at 257 nm, captures Picrocrocin — the bitter flavour compound. All three measurements are taken from the same single extract in a single lab session, making the trio of results an integrated fingerprint of the sample that is very difficult to falsify once you understand the physical constraints.
Infographic — Saffronoor vs ISO Cat. I Baseline
Crocin (A₄₄₀)
Safranal (A₃₃₀)
Picrocrocin (A₂₅₇)
Representative batch values. Actual CoA available on request.
Why Third-Party Testing Is Non-Negotiable
In-house testing is meaningless as a quality guarantee — a producer can report any number they choose. Third-party accredited laboratories cannot: their accreditation depends on reproducible, audited results. When a supplier provides a CoA from an accredited lab (look for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation), the chain of custody from sample to result has been independently verified.
“Ask your saffron supplier for the lab's accreditation number. If they can't provide one, the certificate is decoration.”
How to Verify a Certificate of Analysis
- Lab accreditation: Look for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. In India, check for NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) certification.
- Test standard: Should explicitly state “ISO 3632:2011” or the current revision.
- Sample identification: Lot/batch number on the CoA must match what is printed on your packaging.
- Date of analysis: Should be within 18 months of purchase. Saffron degrades; a three-year-old CoA is not current evidence of quality.
- Three values present: Crocin, Safranal, and Picrocrocin must all appear. A certificate showing only one or two values is incomplete.
What Saffronoor Tests For
Every batch of Saffronoor saffron is tested at an NABL-accredited third-party laboratory before packaging. Our target specifications exceed ISO Category I minimums by a significant margin, and we print the harvest year on every jar so you always know the age of your saffron. Certificates of Analysis are available on request — email us at support@saffronoor.store with your order number.
