HOW TO READ A COIR COA
What a coir certificate of analysis actually covers, and the one thing it will never tell you.
A COA is a factory document
A certificate of analysis (COA) is issued by the manufacturer or a laboratory to confirm that a batch meets the specification the buyer agreed to. For coir, that typically means EC, pH, moisture and sometimes cation exchange capacity (CEC).
The COA tells you what the factory tested and what the results were. It is a quality assurance document. It is not an import permit, a phytosanitary certificate or a microbiological clearance.
What a coir COA typically shows
| Parameter | What it tells you | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| EC | Salt content of the material | Under 0.5 to 1.0 mS/cm depending on spec |
| pH | Acidity or alkalinity | 5.5 to 6.8 |
| Moisture | Water content by weight | Under 15 to 20 percent |
| CEC | Cation exchange capacity | 30 to 60 cmol(+)/kg |
What a COA does not tell you
A COA does not confirm that the material is free of Salmonella or E. coli. Those are microbiological tests, not chemical ones. They require a separate laboratory analysis and a separate report.
For most markets, that distinction does not matter. The COA is sufficient. For Australia, it does.
Australia: the market that requires more
Australia has a dedicated import case for coir peat through BICON, the country's biosecurity import conditions database. The import conditions require Salmonella and E. coli testing before entry, in addition to the standard phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting government's NPPO.
We supply the Salmonella and E. coli status for each shipment to Australia as required. Our most recent microbiological report is from Sucofindo, report E02594/FOBOAS, 8 July 2025: Salmonella negative per 25 grams, E. coli under 3.6 MPN per gram.
Phytosanitary certificates
The phytosanitary certificate is issued by the Indonesian plant quarantine authority, not by us. It confirms the material has been inspected and is free of regulated pests. It travels with the shipment and is required by most importing countries.
What to ask a supplier
- Can you provide a COA per batch? If not, you are buying without a quality record.
- What test method was used for EC? Without the method, the number is not comparable.
- Can you provide microbiological testing? Required for Australia, useful for any market where food safety matters.
- Who issues the phytosanitary certificate? It must come from the government NPPO, not the supplier.
What we supply
We provide a COA with EC, pH, moisture and CEC for each batch, with the test method stated. We arrange microbiological testing through Sucofindo for Australia and any market that requires it. We ship with a phytosanitary certificate from Indonesian plant quarantine as standard.
See our track record and export documents, or send us your requirement.