Seal oil
Seal oil suppliers and sourcing guide
Seal oil is rendered and refined from the blubber of seals, mainly harp seals harvested in Atlantic Canada. It contains EPA, DHA and a relatively high share of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) compared with fish oil. It is sold mainly in Canada as refined bulk oil for softgels, and trade rules on seal products limit where it can be sold.
- Category
- Oils and fats
- Also known as
- Harp seal oil · Seal blubber oil · Pagophilus groenlandicus oil
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of seal oil
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Refined oil
Rendered, refined and deodorized oil sold against minimum EPA, DHA and DPA levels.
Softgel blends
Seal oil alone or blended with other marine oils in bulk softgel fill.
Flavored liquid
Refined oil with added flavor and tocopherols for spoon dosing.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- EPA, DHA and DPA
- Fatty acid profile by GC, reported in mg/g and percent of total fatty acids.
- Peroxide and anisidine values
- Peroxide value (AOCS Cd 8b-90) for primary oxidation and p-anisidine value for secondary oxidation, often combined as TOTOX; these show how fresh the oil is at release.
- Dioxins, PCBs and metals
- Dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs by GC-HRMS, plus lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic by ICP-MS; this is the standard contaminant panel for marine oils.
- Free fatty acids
- Free fatty acids or acid value by titration (AOCS Ca 5a-40 or Cd 3d-63), which rises with poor seed handling, hydrolysis and age.
- Species and origin documentation
- Certificate of species and harvest origin, needed for the trade and import rules that apply to seal products.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store sealed under nitrogen, cool and dark; refrigerate after opening unless encapsulated. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and oxidation values are retested on aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Record species, harvest origin and the actual EPA, DHA, DPA and contaminant results for each lot. Rotate first-expiry, first-out and keep origin documents with the lot record.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Fixed Oil Products - Oral monograph lists seal oil from the blubber of several seal species, including Pagophilus groenlandicus (harp seal).
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)That monograph requires the statement 'Refrigerate after opening' for products containing seal oil, except encapsulated products.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)EU Novel Food status Catalogue entries for seal species, such as the hooded seal (POL-NF-17304), state that placing seal products on the EU market is subject to Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, which in principle prohibits them.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)The US Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1372) makes it unlawful, except as the Act provides, to import marine mammals or marine mammal products.
Source: govinfo.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Seal oil suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking seal oil suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell seal oil? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of seal oil can brands buy?
Common forms include refined oil, softgel blends and flavored liquid. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for seal oil include?
Expect ePA, DHA and DPA, peroxide and anisidine values, dioxins, PCBs and metals, free fatty acids and species and origin documentation, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should seal oil be stored?
Store sealed under nitrogen, cool and dark; refrigerate after opening unless encapsulated. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and oxidation values are retested on aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of seal oil?
Health Canada's Fixed Oil Products - Oral monograph lists seal oil from the blubber of several seal species, including Pagophilus groenlandicus (harp seal). That monograph requires the statement 'Refrigerate after opening' for products containing seal oil, except encapsulated products. EU Novel Food status Catalogue entries for seal species, such as the hooded seal (POL-NF-17304), state that placing seal products on the EU market is subject to Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, which in principle prohibits them. The US Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1372) makes it unlawful, except as the Act provides, to import marine mammals or marine mammal products.
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- Hemp seed oilCannabis sativa seed oil · Hempseed oil
- Pumpkin seed oilCucurbita pepo seed oil · Pepita oil
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