Building a hard-capsule or softgel line? Pharmaceutical gelatin is the raw material that holds your dosage form together — and its purity, viscosity and microbial profile are regulated far more strictly than food-grade gelatin.
To pick the right pharma gelatin supplier, list multiple manufacturers and check pharmacopoeia compliance first (USP, EP or CP). Then verify BSE/TSE-free documentation for bovine sources, review batch-specific COAs for heavy metals and microbiology, and confirm production capacity for your capsule or softgel volumes.
We have ranked the most reliable Chinese pharmaceutical gelatin manufacturers for 2026. Read on to find a partner that can pass your regulatory audit, not just your price check.
Table of Contents
Pharmaceutical gelatin is a high-purity protein used in hard capsule shells, softgel shells, tablet coating and micro-encapsulation. Unlike food-grade gelatin, pharma gelatin must meet pharmacopoeia monographs (USP, EP, CP) with strict limits on heavy metals, sulphur dioxide, microbiology and endotoxins.
Key specifications that capsule manufacturers must verify:
Bloom strength (150–280 for capsules): affects shell hardness and dissolution.
Viscosity (25–50 mPs): critical for shell formation and film strength.
Heavy metals (Pb ≤ 2 mg/kg, As ≤ 1 mg/kg, EP limits): pharmacopoeia thresholds.
Microbiology & endotoxins: TAMC, TYMC and endotoxin limits per monograph.
BSE/TSE-free statement: mandatory for bovine-source material.
| Parameter | Food Grade (GB 6783) | Pharma Grade (USP/EP/CP) |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy metals (Pb) | ≤ 1.5 mg/kg | ≤ 2 mg/kg (EP, per element limits) |
| SO₂ | ≤ 30 mg/kg (type-dependent) | ≤ 10–50 mg/kg per monograph |
| Microbiology | Standard food limits | Strict TAMC/TYMC & endotoxin limits |
| Documentation | COA, food certs | COA + pharmacopoeia compliance + BSE/TSE |
Ranking criteria: pharmacopoeia compliance, certification coverage, capsule-grade production capability, export track record and R&D support.
| Position | Company | Application Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beyond Biopharma Co., Ltd. | Hard capsules / Softgels / Coating / Micro-encapsulation | China (export worldwide) |
| 2 | Rousselot (China plants) | Capsules / Softgels / Coating | Guangdong / Zhejiang / Jilin |
| 3 | Gelita (China operations) | Capsules / Coating | Global, China supply |
| 4 | Baotou Dongbao Bio-tech Co., Ltd. | Capsules / Food | Inner Mongolia |
| 5 | Qinghai Gelatin Co., Ltd. | Capsules (bovine bone) | Qinghai |
| 6 | Shandong JRT Gelatin Co., Ltd. | Bone gelatin, pharma-aligned | Shandong |
| 7 | Shijiazhuang Jinda Gelatin Co., Ltd. | Edible / Pharma | Hebei |
| 8 | Hengshui Xihao Gelatin Co., Ltd. | Edible / Technical | Hebei |
| 9 | Dezhou Yalun Import & Export Co., Ltd. | Standard grades | Shandong |
| 10 | Fucheng Xushang Gelatin Co., Ltd. | Edible / Food | Hebei |
Beyond Biopharma leads our pharma list with a dedicated pharmaceutical gelatin line spanning hard capsules, softgels, tablet coating and micro-encapsulation. Its bovine source is BSE/TSE-free certified, and the company supplies pharmacopoeia-aligned grades with batch-specific COAs.
For capsule manufacturers, Beyond Biopharma offers a controlled Bloom and viscosity range tuned for shell formation, plus R&D support for gel strength, dissolution and cross-linking control. Its halal-certified options support capsule exports to Muslim-majority markets.
| Main Products | Hard-capsule, softgel, coating and micro-encapsulation gelatin |
| Certifications | HACCP, ISO 22000, Halal, Kosher, BSE-Free |
| Documentation | Batch-specific COA, BSE/TSE statement, pharmacopoeia-aligned specs |
Rousselot’s Chinese plants supply pharma-grade gelatin with global quality systems and deep application expertise in capsule and softgel production — a premium, audit-safe choice for large pharmaceutical manufacturers.
| Main Products | Pharma-grade gelatin for capsules, softgels, coating |
| Best Suited For | Large pharma, global compliance programs |
Gelita supplies pharma-grade gelatin worldwide with strong technical support for capsule and coating applications. Its Chinese sales and supply operations serve pharma and nutraceutical customers across the region.
| Main Products | Pharma gelatin for capsules and coatings |
| Strengths | Global brand, application expertise |
Dongbao is one of China’s largest listed gelatin producers with both pharma and food output, offering scale, raw-material control and cost leadership for high-volume capsule manufacturers.
| Main Products | Pharma & edible gelatin, collagen peptides |
| Strengths | Scale, vertical integration, competitive pricing |
A long-established bovine bone gelatin producer with halal-friendly sourcing, Qinghai Gelatin serves pharma customers needing bovine-derived capsule material at competitive cost.
| Main Products | Bovine bone gelatin |
| Strengths | Halal supply region, competitive price |
Dezhou-based JRT specialises in bone-derived gelatin with stable raw supply, offering pharma-aligned grades for customers who want consolidated gelatin sourcing.
| Main Products | Bone gelatin |
| Strengths | Stable raw supply, export documentation |
Jinda produces both edible and pharmaceutical gelatins with dual production capability — a practical option for customers who buy multiple grades from one source.
| Main Products | Edible & pharma gelatin |
| Strengths | Dual capability, flexible MOQ |
Xihao supplies edible and technical gelatins with growing output — a mid-tier option for pharma customers on non-critical auxiliary applications.
| Main Products | Edible & technical gelatin |
| Strengths | Consistent output, responsive service |
Yalun offers standard food and pharma-aligned gelatin grades with export-focused service — a convenient channel for first-time pharma importers.
| Main Products | Standard gelatin grades |
| Strengths | Quick dispatch, export paperwork |
Rounding out the list, Xushang supplies edible gelatin with flexible volumes — suitable for capsule and food applications where regional capacity is preferred.
| Main Products | Edible gelatin |
| Strengths | Regional capacity, flexible volumes |
Demand grades that meet USP, EP or CP monographs for your target market. Ask which monograph the product is tested against and request the corresponding test report.
For bovine gelatin, require a BSE/TSE-free certificate and source-country documentation — this is non-negotiable for most regulated markets including the EU and US.
Check heavy metals, SO₂, microbiology, endotoxins, Bloom and viscosity on the exact batch you are buying, not a generic spec sheet.
Capsule shell formation is sensitive to viscosity. Work with the supplier’s technical team to match gelatin specs to your capsule machine and dissolution targets.
A video or in-person audit covering GMP, hygiene, raw-material traceability and QC labs is the fastest way to shortlist trustworthy suppliers.
World-scale capacity: China is the largest gelatin producer globally, with dedicated pharma-grade lines serving capsule and softgel industries.
Capsule industry cluster: major capsule-shell manufacturing regions sit alongside gelatin production, creating mature pharma-grade supply chains.
Cost efficiency: integrated sourcing and scale keep pharma-grade prices competitive.
Compliance maturity: leading Chinese suppliers routinely meet USP/EP/CP requirements and export to regulated markets with full documentation.
Pharma gelatin is a regulated raw material — the cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest overall cost once audit failures, rejected batches and regulatory delays are counted. Prioritise pharmacopoeia compliance, BSE/TSE documentation and technical support. Beyond Biopharma offers all of these with a dedicated pharma line; the rest of this list deserves due diligence too.
Need a pharma-grade gelatin sample or spec sheet? Tell us your application (hard capsules, softgels, coating), target viscosity and monthly volume — we’ll respond within 24 hours. Contact our pharma team or browse our pharmaceutical gelatin range.
What is pharmaceutical gelatin?
Pharmaceutical gelatin is a high-purity gelatin meeting pharmacopoeia standards (USP/EP/CP), with strict limits on heavy metals, microbiology and endotoxins. It is used for hard and soft capsule shells, tablet coating and encapsulation.
Is Chinese pharmaceutical gelatin safe?
Yes, when purchased from manufacturers that meet USP/EP/CP specifications, hold GMP/HACCP certifications and provide batch-specific COAs including BSE/TSE-free statements for bovine sources.
What is the difference between food-grade and pharma-grade gelatin?
Pharma-grade gelatin has stricter purity limits (lower heavy metals, tighter microbiology, controlled endotoxins and viscosity) and must meet pharmacopoeia monographs, while food-grade gelatin follows food standards such as GB 6783 or FCC.
Can pharmaceutical gelatin be used for halal capsules?
Yes. Halal-certified bovine or fish gelatin can be used for capsule shells destined for Muslim-majority markets. Always verify the Halal certificate issuer and its validity.
What documents should I request from a pharma gelatin supplier?
Request batch-specific COAs, BSE/TSE-free statements, heavy-metal and microbiology test reports, GMP/HACCP certificates, and pharmacopoeia compliance documentation (USP/EP/CP) for the exact grade you purchase.
Sources: publicly available company information and industry references. Company details are a sourcing starting point and should be verified with each supplier directly. © Beyond Biopharma Co., Ltd. · Pharmaceutical Gelatin Products · Contact Us
Tel:+86 21 65010906
Cell/Whatsapp/Wechat:
+86 13482884055
+86 18657345785
Email: sales@beyondbiopharma.com