Published 27 Oct 2026
Updated 27 Oct 2026
7 min read
- Look for the sticker: a DFTQC registration number and the importer’s details, somewhere on the tub or the cap.
- Ask for a full VAT bill: it should show the full product name and the seller’s PAN.
- Check the PAN: the Inland Revenue Department’s PAN search shows the registered name and address of the seller.
- Be careful with: a label printed differently from the usual one, and a price that looks too good to be true.
- One check is not enough: stickers and bills can be copied, so use all of them together.
If you are buying supplements for the first time, it is hard to know what is real. Tubs look alike, and shops, marketplaces and social media sellers all say “100% original”. This guide shows you what a genuine product should have, and how to check it yourself in a few minutes. You do not need any tools or lab tests.
We are Peak X Supplement, an authorized distributor of the brands we sell, including Optimum Nutrition, MuscleBlaze, MuscleTech, BiotechUSA and BPI Sports. Every product we sell carries a DFTQC registration number and importer details, and every order comes with a full VAT bill. Use the same checks on any shop you buy from, including ours.
Why looks are not enoughThe 5 checksWhen it arrivesGenuine vs fake tableChecklistQuestions and answers
Why Looks Are Not Enough
A fake supplement is made to look like the real one: the same colours, the same name, sometimes a copied label. So you cannot trust the front of the tub alone. What a copy usually cannot give you is the paperwork behind a product: the registration number, the importer who brought it into Nepal, and a proper tax bill from a registered seller.
That is why the five checks below look at documents first. The taste of the powder is a poor test. A genuine product can taste a little different from one batch to the next, and taste or smell cannot tell you whether a product is safe.
The 5 Checks
1. Find the DFTQC sticker
The registration number for Nepal
DFTQC is the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, the Nepal government department for food products. A supplement sold legally in Nepal should have a sticker that shows its DFTQC registration number.
The sticker is not always in the same place. On some tubs it is on the cap, on others on the side or the back of the tub, so turn the whole tub around and look at the lid too. In the pictures here, one sticker is on the side of the tub and two are on the lid. If you cannot find a sticker anywhere, ask the seller to show you where it is. No sticker is a clear warning sign.
We have not found a public online list where you can look up a DFTQC number, so treat the sticker as one check among five, not as proof on its own.
2. Read the importer details
Who brought it into Nepal
The same sticker should also name the importer. This tells you which company brought the product into Nepal and that someone is responsible for it. The stickers in the pictures also show the importer’s EXIM number, address and phone number next to the DFTQC number. A sticker with a number but no importer details, or importer details that are blurred, cut off or missing, is another warning sign.
If you buy more than one product from a shop, compare the stickers. Clear, complete importer details on every tub are a good sign.
3. Ask for a full VAT bill and check the PAN
The seller’s proof
A seller who buys and sells genuine stock can give you a proper VAT bill. The bill should show the seller’s name, the seller’s VAT or PAN number (printed at the top, next to “VAT NO.” on a Peak X bill) and the full name of the product you bought in the “Particular” column. The “Customer PAN No.” box is for your own PAN, not the seller’s. A seller who refuses to give a bill, or who only gives a hand-written slip, is a risk.
A bill can also carry a fake PAN, so check it. Here is how:
- Open the Inland Revenue Department PAN search page.
- Type the seller’s 9-digit PAN (the VAT number at the top of the bill).
- Read the result. It shows the registered name, the address and the trade name.
- Compare them with the seller on your bill. They should match.
The picture above is the result for Peak X Supplement. It shows our name, our Banepa address and our trade name.
A valid PAN shows who the seller is. It does not prove by itself that a product is genuine, so use it together with the sticker and the product details.
4. Look at the label and the variant
Does it match what is sold in Nepal?
The official importer brings in specific products, sizes and flavours. If the tub’s label is printed differently from the one you normally see for that product, or it shows a flavour, size or pack design you have never seen at an authorized shop, ask why. A tub that looks different from what the official importer brings in is a reason to ask questions before you pay.
For example, the sticker on the MuscleBlaze Biozorb tub in the picture above says “Made Exclusively For Nepal”. Also read the label for blurry printing, spelling mistakes, faded logos and a nutrition table that does not look right. None of these alone proves a fake, but together with a missing sticker they are a strong warning.
5. Question a price that looks too good
Cheap is a warning, not a deal
Imported supplements cost money to bring into Nepal, and an authorized seller pays for the stock, the registration and the tax. When someone sells the same tub far below the normal price, ask how. A low price is not proof of a fake, but it is one of the most common signs.
Many Nepal stickers also show the MRP, the maximum retail price. Compare the price you are offered with it: a small discount is normal, a very big one needs an explanation.
Check the price on the seller’s own website and on one or two other authorized shops. If one price is far lower than all the others, be careful. A “special offer” with no bill is a bigger risk.
When the Tub Arrives: Check These Too
Before you open the tub, take a minute to check the following:
- Seal: the factory seal under the cap should be complete, not broken, loose or re-glued.
- Batch number and expiry date: both should be printed clearly. Keep a photo of them in case you need to contact the seller.
- Packaging: the tub, label and scoop should look and feel like a finished product, not a copy.
- Brand marks: some brands add their own hologram on the lid, and some stickers carry a QR code marked “Authenticity check”. They are a useful extra, but marks can be copied, so never rely on them alone.
- Your bill: keep the bill and the delivery packing slip together with the tub until you have finished it.
We do not recommend taste, smell or mixing tests as proof. A normal product can taste different from one batch to another, and no home test can tell you what is inside the powder.
Genuine vs Fake: The Short Version
| Check | What to look at |
|---|---|
| DFTQC sticker | Genuine: sticker with a DFTQC number on the tub or cap. Warning sign: no sticker, or a sticker with no number. |
| Importer details | Genuine: the importer’s details are on the sticker. Warning sign: details missing, blurred or cut off. |
| Bill | Genuine: full VAT bill with the product name and a PAN that matches the seller. Warning sign: no bill, a hand-written slip, or a PAN that does not match. |
| Label | Genuine: clear printing, the usual design for that product. Warning sign: a design or variant that the official importer does not bring in. |
| Price | Genuine: close to other authorized shops. Warning sign: far below everyone else. |
Your Quick Checklist Before You Pay
- Is there a DFTQC sticker with a number? (check the tub and the cap)
- Does the sticker name the importer?
- Will the seller give a full VAT bill with the product name?
- Does the PAN on the bill match the seller in the IRD PAN search?
- Does the label look like the usual one for this product?
- Is the price close to other authorized shops?
- Is the seal complete, and are the batch number and expiry date clear?
If the seller cannot answer “yes” to the first four, think twice before you buy.
How Peak X Backs Up Its Products
We are happy for you to check us the same way:
- We are an authorized distributor of the brands we sell.
- Every product carries a DFTQC registration number and importer details on a sticker.
- Every order comes with a full VAT bill that shows the full product name.
- Our PAN is registered with the Inland Revenue Department, and you can search it yourself.
You can see everything we stock in our online shop, and delivery goes across Nepal. For prices, see our whey protein price list for Nepal and our guide to the best whey protein in Nepal.
You Might Also Like
- Best Whey Protein in Nepal [Updated 2026]
- Best Whey Protein Under Rs. 10,000
- All Peak X buying guides
Questions and Answers
How can I check if a supplement is genuine in Nepal?
Look for the DFTQC sticker with a registration number and the importer’s details, ask for a full VAT bill, check the seller’s PAN on the Inland Revenue Department’s PAN search, and compare the label and the price with other authorized shops. Use all the checks together, because no single one is enough.
What is a DFTQC number on a supplement?
DFTQC stands for the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, a Nepal government department. The DFTQC number on the sticker is the product’s registration number for sale in Nepal.
Is a VAT bill proof that a supplement is genuine?
No, not on its own. A full bill shows who sold the product and what you bought, but a bill can carry a wrong PAN. Check the PAN against the Inland Revenue Department’s PAN search, and use the sticker and label checks as well.
Can I check a PAN number online?
Yes. The Inland Revenue Department has a PAN search. Type the 9-digit PAN from the bill and compare the registered name, address and trade name with the seller on your bill.
Are cheap supplements always fake?
No, but a price far below other authorized shops is a warning sign. Ask for the bill, find the DFTQC sticker and check the PAN before you pay.
Is a fake supplement dangerous?
A fake product can contain different ingredients or amounts from what the label says, and you cannot tell by taste or smell. If you think you bought a fake, stop using it and speak to a doctor if you feel unwell.
What should I do if I think I bought a fake?
Keep the tub, the bill, the packing slip and photos of the label, sticker, seal and batch number. Contact the seller first and show them what you found. If you feel unwell, stop using the product and see a doctor.
Does Peak X give a bill with every order?
Yes. Every order comes with a full VAT bill that shows the product name, and every product carries a DFTQC number and importer details.
This information is general and not medical advice. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take medication, speak to your doctor before using supplements.
Owner of Peak X Supplement in Banepa, selling sports nutrition and delivering across Nepal.
Every product comes with a DFTQC number, importer details and a full VAT bill.
