How to Order OEM Sanitary Pads from a Manufacturer: A 6-Step Guide
Ordering OEM sanitary pads means a manufacturer produces pads to your specification and packs them under your brand. Whether you are launching a feminine care brand, adding a private label line for a retail chain, or sourcing for a distribution business, the order follows the same six steps: confirm your requirements, select the product, approve samples, design your packaging, run mass production, and ship.
This guide walks through each step from the buyer's side: the specifications to decide, the documents to ask for, and the compliance points that differ by market. It is written by Viola Li, Kamei Product's OEM manager, who has also built a private-label brand from the buyer's side.
Key facts
Minimum order quantity (MOQ): 300,000 pcs per size. Each size is quoted separately.
Product range: panty liners, day, night and overnight pads, from 152 mm to 420 mm.
What you can customize: length and type, thickness, topsheet, core and absorbency level, wings, embossing, and private label packaging.
Samples: free for qualified B2B buyers. You cover the courier cost, which can be negotiated for larger programs.
Certifications for these pads: FDA registered and listed; CE marked as a Class I medical device under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR, Regulation (EU) 2017/745); made in an ISO 13485 certified factory.
Quotation: a priced OEM quotation within 24 hours on working days.
Trade terms: FOB as standard, or EXW; CIF for orders of at least one 40HQ container. Your quotation confirms the production schedule and payment terms.
OEM, private label and white label
Buyers use these terms for different arrangements, but they describe who owns the specification and the brand, not different products:
OEM (original equipment manufacturing): the manufacturer produces pads to your specification and packs them under your brand.
Private label: your brand on a specification the manufacturer already makes, often with changes to materials, size or packaging.
White label: a standard pad sold under different buyers' brands, with only the packaging changed.
The six ordering steps below are the same for all three.
Step 1 — Requirement Confirmation
Every good quotation starts with a clear brief. The more precisely you describe what you need, the faster a manufacturer can match materials, sizes and packaging, and the fewer revisions you will need later.
Decide these before you ask for a quote
Your market and channel. Where the pads will be sold, and how: supermarkets and pharmacies, e-commerce, or institutional supply and tenders. The market decides your labeling and compliance requirements; the channel shapes packaging and pack counts.
Pad types and sizes. Liners, day, night or overnight pads, and which lengths. Each size you add is a separate production run with its own MOQ.
Quantity per size. Plan at least 300,000 pieces for every size you order.
Positioning. Ultra-thin or regular, soft or dry-feel topsheet, premium or value. A reference product you already sell is the quickest way to communicate this.
Packaging. Pieces per pack, individually wrapped or not, retail bags or boxes, and packs per carton.
Compliance needs. The registrations, labels and test reports your market expects (see "Compliance in your market" below).
What to put in your quote request
Our quote form asks for the essentials. Use the message box for the details that matter most to pricing:
Your contact details, company name and destination country.
Your expected quantity: 300,000 – 1,000,000 pcs, 1,000,000+ pcs, or "Not sure yet — please advise".
In the message: the sizes and the quantity for each size, your preferred trade term (FOB, EXW, or CIF for orders of a 40HQ or more), your target price if you have one, and your private label and packaging requirements.
Viola's tip: Send photos or a sample of the pad you sell today, plus the shelf price you need to hit. A concrete reference often saves a round of samples, because we can match the materials and construction instead of guessing.
Step 2 — Product Selection
Next, turn your brief into a specification. A sanitary pad is built from a few layers: a topsheet against the skin, an absorbent core, and a leak-proof backsheet, plus wings, adhesive and release paper. Each layer can be specified. The options below are the ones we produce, and we can develop a specification with you.
Pad types and sizes
Type | Lengths (mm) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
Panty liners | 152, 155, 180, 190 | Daily freshness and very light days |
Day pads | 240, 245 | Regular flow during the day |
Night pads | 285, 290, 320, 330 | Heavier flow and longer wear |
Overnight pads | 350, 380, 410, 420 | Overnight protection |
Materials and construction
Component | Options |
|---|---|
Thickness | Ultra-thin, slim, regular, or custom |
Topsheet | Soft non-woven, cotton-feel, perforated film, or custom |
Absorbent core | Fluff pulp with SAP (superabsorbent polymer); absorbency level and core structure customized to your range |
Backsheet | Breathable PE film |
Wings | Wingless, standard, wide, or full-width |
Embossing | Custom embossing patterns |
Packaging | Individual wrapper, retail bag, carton, private label printing |
Matching a product you already sell
If you are moving an existing product to a new manufacturer, send us samples of it. We can match an existing specification or develop a new one with you, and compare the two side by side during sampling.
Decide early whether your range includes fragrance: in the US, scented and deodorized pads fall under a different FDA rule from unscented ones (see the compliance table below).
Step 3 — Sample Development
Samples turn the specification into something you can test. Qualified B2B buyers receive free samples; you cover the courier cost, which can be negotiated for larger programs.
What to test
Fit and length for the intended use: day, night or overnight.
Dryness and absorbency feel, including how dry the surface stays after absorbing.
Adhesive hold on underwear, and clean removal.
Wrapper and release paper that open and peel easily.
Softness and odor of the topsheet.
Consistency between several samples of the same size.
Test reports to ask for
Depending on your market, importers and retailers may ask for laboratory reports, for example on pH, formaldehyde, microbiological limits or absorbency. Some US states, such as California and Minnesota, restrict intentionally added PFAS in menstrual products. Agree which reports you need before production starts. We provide test reports once your OEM order is confirmed; if you need testing by a third-party laboratory, the test fee is charged to you.
Approve a reference sample
Viola's tip: Test samples with a few real users in your market, not only in the office. Absorbency, softness and fit feel personal, and early feedback costs far less than a reprint.
When the sample is right, approve it in writing and keep a set. This reference sample (often called a golden sample) becomes the standard for mass production and for any inspection before shipment.
Step 4 — Private Label Packaging
Packaging is where your brand appears, and where most compliance requirements live.
Formats
Individual wrappers for each pad, printed with your design.
Retail bags or boxes holding a set number of pads.
Cartons for shipping, with your carton marks.
Private label printing across all of the above.
Artwork and proofs
Supply print-ready vector files (AI or PDF) for each format, or use our design support, which is available once your prepayment is received. Approve a digital proof before printing, and check text, barcodes and regulatory marks at actual size.
Viola's tip: Print the proof at full size and hold it next to the products on the shelf you are aiming for. Small text that looks fine on screen is often unreadable on a pad wrapper.
Labeling checklist
Requirements vary by market, but most packs carry:
Product name and type, size or length, and pad count
Materials and directions for use, with any warnings
The manufacturer's details and, where required, the importer's or authorized representative's name and address
A lot or batch number
The regulatory marks for your market, such as the CE mark in the EU
In the EU, the "PLASTIC IN PRODUCT" marking on the sales packaging of sanitary towels (Regulation (EU) 2020/2151)
In California, an ingredient list on the package
Text in the local language or languages
Step 5 — Mass Production
Production starts once three things are in place: the reference sample is approved, the artwork is final, and the order is confirmed under the terms in your quotation. Your quotation confirms the production schedule.
What can delay production
Artwork changes after approval
New packaging materials or printing that has not been sampled
Adding sizes or changing quantities after the order is confirmed
Peak seasons for materials and shipping
Quality control
Our pads are made in an ISO 13485 certified factory. ISO 13485 is the quality management standard for medical devices, and it covers incoming materials, in-process controls and final inspection. Many buyers also book an independent pre-shipment inspection, usually sampled to AQL levels under ISO 2859-1. You are welcome to arrange one at your own cost.
Step 6 — Packing & Shipment
Finished pads are packed into cartons and loaded for shipping under the trade term in your quotation.
Trade terms: FOB, EXW or CIF
Term | Seller (Kamei Product) | Buyer (you) |
|---|---|---|
FOB (Free On Board), our standard term | Export clearance and delivery on board the vessel at the port of loading in China | Ocean freight, insurance and everything after loading |
EXW (Ex Works) | Making the goods available at our facility | Pickup, export clearance, freight and insurance |
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight), for orders of at least one 40HQ container | Export clearance, ocean freight and minimum cargo insurance to your port of destination | Import clearance, duties and onward delivery; the risk passes to you once the goods are on board in China |
All three terms are defined in the ICC's Incoterms 2020 rules.
Container planning
How many pads fit in a container depends on pad length, thickness, pack count and carton size, so plan your quantities per size together with your quotation. Shipping several sizes together is common; each size still needs to meet its own MOQ.
Documents
Commercial invoice and packing list
Bill of lading or other transport document
A certificate of origin where your customs require it
Copies of the certifications: FDA registration and listing details, the EU Declaration of Conformity, and the ISO 13485 certificate, which we share with buyers on request
Compliance in your market
Rules for sanitary pads differ by market, and some duties sit with the importer or brand owner rather than the manufacturer. Use this table as a starting point.
Market | What applies to sanitary pads | Who is responsible | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
United States | Menstrual pads are medical devices. Unscented pads are Class I (21 CFR 884.5435); scented and deodorized pads fall under 21 CFR 884.5425. Most are exempt from 510(k) premarket notification. Registration and listing do not mean FDA approval. | The foreign manufacturer registers and lists the device and names a US agent; the initial importer registers too. If you sell under your own brand, ask a US regulatory consultant whether your company also needs to register and list. | |
European Union | Our pads are CE marked as a Class I medical device under the MDR, with an EU Declaration of Conformity. Sales packaging carries the "PLASTIC IN PRODUCT" marking. | The importer checks the CE marking, the Declaration of Conformity and the device's registration in EUDAMED, and adds its own name and address to the device or packaging (MDR Article 13). | |
United Kingdom | In Great Britain, CE marked devices under the EU MDR are accepted until 30 June 2030, and medical devices must be registered with the MHRA. Northern Ireland requires CE marking. | A manufacturer outside the UK appoints a UK Responsible Person, who registers the device with the MHRA. | |
Kenya | Sanitary towels are covered by the standard KS EAS 96. Imports go through the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) program. | The importer arranges the certificate of conformity; check the current edition of the standard with KEBS. | |
South Africa | Disposable sanitary towels are covered by the national standard SANS 1043, and stronger label disclosure has been proposed. | The importer or brand owner confirms which requirements apply with the SABS. |
This table is a starting point, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with your regulator or importer before you order.
Common mistakes to avoid
Planning sizes below the MOQ. The 300,000-piece MOQ applies to each size, so a three-size range needs at least 900,000 pieces.
Skipping the reference sample. Without an approved sample, there is no agreed standard for production or inspection.
Changing artwork after approval. Late changes mean new proofs or printing plates, and a later start.
Ignoring labeling rules. Packs printed without the marks or text your market requires may need relabeling at your cost.
Choosing a trade term without a forwarder. With FOB or EXW, you arrange the freight, so line up a freight forwarder before production ends.
Asking for a price before defining sizes and quantities. A quotation is only as accurate as the brief behind it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for OEM sanitary pads?
Our MOQ is 300,000 pieces per size. Each size is quoted separately, so tell us the sizes and quantities you need.
Can I mix sizes to reach the MOQ?
No. Each size needs to reach 300,000 pieces on its own, but you can order several sizes together in one production plan.
Are samples free?
Yes, for qualified B2B buyers. You cover the courier cost, which can be negotiated for larger programs.
Which certifications do your pads hold?
Our pads are FDA registered and listed, and CE marked as a Class I medical device under the EU MDR, with an EU Declaration of Conformity available to importers. They are made in an ISO 13485 certified factory. We share the certificates with buyers on request.
Can you match the pad I sell today?
Yes. Send us samples, and we can match the existing specification or develop a new one with you.
How long does production take?
It depends on the sizes, packaging, materials and season. Production starts after the reference sample and artwork are approved, and your quotation confirms the schedule.
Which trade terms do you offer?
FOB is our standard term, and EXW is also available. CIF is available for orders of at least one 40HQ container.
Do you provide test reports?
Yes, once your OEM order is confirmed. If you need testing by a third-party laboratory, the test fee is charged to you.
Can I inspect the goods before shipment?
Yes. You are welcome to book an independent pre-shipment inspection at your own cost.
How do I get a quote?
Send us your target market, pad types, sizes, quantities and packaging needs through the quote form. We reply with a priced OEM quotation within 24 hours on working days.
Ready to start?
Tell us about your brand and the pads you need, and we will come back with a priced OEM quotation within 24 hours on working days.
About the author. Viola Li is the Project Manager and OEM Manager at Kamei Product, with 8 years in the hygiene industry. As the founder of the Hong Kong brand Woodswell, Viola has also launched a private-label range from the buyer's side.
Sources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Who must register, list and pay the fee
eCFR: 21 CFR 884.5425, scented or scented deodorized menstrual pad
EUR-Lex: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 on single-use plastic markings
U.S. International Trade Administration: Kenya Pre-Export Verification of Conformity
International Chamber of Commerce: Incoterms 2020
California Legislative Information: AB 1989, Menstrual Products Right to Know Act
