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Shellac

Shellac suppliers and sourcing guide

Shellac is a natural resin secreted by the lac insect (Kerria lacca) on host trees, mainly in India and Thailand. The raw sticklac is scraped from branches, crushed and washed to seedlac, then refined by melting and filtering or by solvent extraction, and optionally dewaxed and bleached. It is sold as flakes or as solutions in ethanol. Brands use it as a glaze on confectionery and coated tablets, and as an enteric or moisture-barrier coating.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Confectioner's glaze · Lac resin · Kerria lacca secretion · E904 · Pharmaceutical glaze
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of shellac

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Orange (unbleached) shellac

    Seedlac refined without bleaching, amber to orange in color; the form listed for organic use in the US.

  • Bleached (refined) shellac

    Bleached to a pale or white color, often dewaxed, for clear glazes.

  • Dewaxed shellac

    Shellac with natural wax removed for clearer films and solutions.

  • Confectioner's glaze / pharmaceutical glaze

    Shellac dissolved in food-grade ethanol at a stated solids content, ready to apply.

  • Aqueous shellac

    Ammonium or other salt solutions of shellac for alcohol-free coating.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity and type
Identity per the USP-NF or FCC monograph, with the stated type (orange, bleached, dewaxed).
Acid value
By titration, which reflects resin quality and age.
Wax content
Gravimetric wax content, low for dewaxed grades.
Lead and arsenic
Heavy metals by ICP-MS against the monograph or FCC limits.
Loss on drying and ethanol-insoluble matter
Moisture and insoluble debris in the refined resin.
Solids content (for solutions)
Nonvolatile content of glaze solutions, which sets coating weight.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store flakes in closed containers in a cool, dry, dark place; heat causes shellac to block (stick together) and to lose solubility as it ages. Solutions are flammable when made with ethanol and should be kept closed in approved containers. Shelf life is set by the supplier; bleached shellac in particular has a limited usable life, so check solubility and acid value on older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Color, wax content and acid value vary with lac crop, host tree and refining. Record grade, color and acid value per lot, and use stock FEFO since shellac becomes less soluble with age.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists purified shellac (other names include confectioner's glaze and lac resin) with technical effects including surface-finishing agent.

    Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • 7 CFR 205.606 lists orange shellac, unbleached, among the nonorganically produced agricultural products allowed in products labeled "organic", only when the product is not commercially available in organic form.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's List of Permitted Glazing and Polishing Agents allows shellac as a glazing agent in cake decorations and unstandardized confectionery at up to 4,000 ppm.

    Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists shellac as a secretion of Kerria lacca with non-medicinal purposes of coating agent and polishing agent.

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (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.

Shellac suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking shellac 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 shellac? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of shellac can brands buy?

Common forms include orange (unbleached) shellac, bleached (refined) shellac, dewaxed shellac, confectioner's glaze / pharmaceutical glaze and aqueous shellac. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for shellac include?

Expect identity and type, acid value, wax content, lead and arsenic, loss on drying and ethanol-insoluble matter and solids content (for solutions), each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should shellac be stored?

Store flakes in closed containers in a cool, dry, dark place; heat causes shellac to block (stick together) and to lose solubility as it ages. Solutions are flammable when made with ethanol and should be kept closed in approved containers. Shelf life is set by the supplier; bleached shellac in particular has a limited usable life, so check solubility and acid value on older stock.

What is the regulatory status of shellac?

FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists purified shellac (other names include confectioner's glaze and lac resin) with technical effects including surface-finishing agent. 7 CFR 205.606 lists orange shellac, unbleached, among the nonorganically produced agricultural products allowed in products labeled "organic", only when the product is not commercially available in organic form. Health Canada's List of Permitted Glazing and Polishing Agents allows shellac as a glazing agent in cake decorations and unstandardized confectionery at up to 4,000 ppm. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists shellac as a secretion of Kerria lacca with non-medicinal purposes of coating agent and polishing agent.

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