The PD Standard

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What’s in it?
What’s not in it?
How does it perform?

Pouches Direct built a system to help answer these questions. The PD Standard is the baseline requirement for a product to be listed. The badges are awarded for additional product label transparency and verification and for product performance according to real users.

What the PD Standard means

The PD Standard is the baseline every product must clear to be sold on Pouches Direct. We independently lab-test each product we sell for microbials and heavy metals through a third-party lab before listing and randomly, on an ongoing basis.

In addition, the brand owner must certify the products are free from Pouches Direct’s list of banned substances.

Understanding the badges

PD Verified — all ingredients are disclosed. Lab tests confirm the label claims. Screened for pesticides.

Pouches Direct awards the PD Verified badge for all products that meet the following criteria:

  • Brand-owner certified as produced in a GMP-certified/FDA-compliant facility.
  • All ingredients and dosages are publicly disclosed — no proprietary blends.
  • Passed our third-party independent lab test for chemical active ingredient dosage accuracy, botanical active ingredient presence, and pesticides.
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PD TopScore — product received top scores from users for performance and experience.

Pouch Scores are calculated from accumulated reviews of products — actual user ratings on product effectiveness, smoothness, wear-off, flavor, mouth-feel, and more.

Pouches Direct awards the PD TopScore badge for products with the top Pouch Scores.

Don’t see a badge for your favorite pouch? Add your review and help it earn its spot!

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Pass thresholds and test methods

PD Standard tests

PD Standard pass thresholds
CategoryTestMethodPass threshold
MicrobialsTotal Plate CountUSP<61><100 cfu/g
Yeast & MoldUSP<61><10 cfu/g
PathogensUSP<62>Absent
E. coliUSP<62>Absent
SalmonellaUSP<62>Absent
Pseudomonas aeruginosaUSP<62>Absent
Staphylococcus AureusUSP<62>Absent
Candida albicansUSP<62>Absent
Aspergillus brasiliensisUSP<62>Absent
Heavy metalsLeadICP-MS<0.5 ppm
ArsenicICP-MS<10 ppm
CadmiumICP-MS<4.1 ppm
MercuryICP-MS<0.3 ppm

PD Verified tests

PD Verified pass thresholds
TestMethodPass threshold
Pesticides / phosphatesUSP<561>Meets USP<561>
Chemical active ingredientsActive dependentAt least 90% of stated amount
Herbal active ingredientsPresenceConfirmed present

Common questions

Does every product on Pouches Direct pass The PD Standard?

Yes. Every listed product is independently lab-tested for microbials and heavy metals before listing and randomly, on an ongoing basis. The brand owner must also certify that the products are free from Pouches Direct’s list of banned substances.

What's the difference between The PD Standard and the badges?

The PD Standard is the baseline every listed product must meet. PD Verified recognizes facility certification, ingredient and dosage disclosure, and additional independent lab testing. PD TopScore recognizes products with the top Pouch Scores from actual user reviews.

Do brands pay for badges?

No. Badges can't be bought — they're awarded against published criteria, and a product keeps a badge only as long as it keeps meeting them.

Why doesn’t every product have the PD Verified badge?

PD Verified requires the brand to publicly disclose all ingredients and active ingredient dosages and to take part in extra testing. Not every brand does this, so the badge only appears on products that meet every requirement.

How often are products retested?

Random samples of every product are retested periodically on an ongoing basis. PD Verified products are retested to keep the badge.

Questions about pouches, orders, shipping, returns, or an issue? Start with AskPD, our AI search. If you need a person, it can help you send a request to our support team.