Buying guide
How to Check a Supplement Is Genuine Before You Pay
Cash on delivery gives African buyers something shoppers in many markets do not have: a chance to inspect before paying. This is the checklist that makes that moment count.
Before you order
Find the manufacturer’s official product images and note what the genuine pack looks like — colours, layout, logo placement, pack size.
Check whether your country requires a registration number: NAFDAC in Nigeria, FDA registration in Ghana. In South Africa, look for the prescribed complementary medicine disclaimer.
The physical inspection
Run through these at the door, before money changes hands.
- Print quality — blurred text, misaligned labels or spelling errors
- Batch number and expiry date present, legible, and matching between outer box and inner container
- An intact tamper seal under the cap, and sealed blisters
- Capsules or tablets uniform in colour, size, shape and smell
- A manufacturer or importer address that exists
- Registration number where your country requires one
What to do if something is wrong
Decline the parcel. This costs you nothing and avoids a refund process that may go nowhere.
If you have already paid, keep everything — pack, receipt, packaging, courier details — and photograph it before contacting the seller.
Reporting
Report suspected counterfeits to the national regulator: NAFDAC, FDA Ghana, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, TMDA, the National Drug Authority or SAHPRA.
Reports are how enforcement priorities are set and how public alerts get issued. A single report is more useful than most people assume.
Frequently asked questions
Can a counterfeit have a registration number?
Numbers can be copied, which is why physical inspection and channel choice matter alongside the paperwork check.
What if the courier will not wait?
Ask before ordering whether inspection is permitted. If not, photograph the sealed parcel before opening so you have a record.
Related guides
How to avoid counterfeit supplements
What to check before ordering
How to buy supplements safely online
Medical disclaimer. BioMedic Africa publishes consumer health information and supplement research summaries. It is not a pharmacy, a clinic or a medicines regulator, and nothing here is a diagnosis, a prescription or a treatment plan. Dietary supplements are foods, not medicines: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with a pharmacist or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, living with a long-term condition, or taking prescription medication.
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