The Zechstein Formation — Geological Science
The Zechstein Sea was a shallow epicontinental sea that covered much of Northern Europe during the Late Permian period, approximately 250–260 million years ago. As this sea underwent repeated cycles of evaporation and refilling — driven by the warm, arid climate of the period — it deposited thick sequences of evaporite minerals. These minerals include halite (rock salt), anhydrite, calcium sulfate, and magnesium chloride (MgCl₂).
Over geological time, the overlying sedimentary rock buried and sealed these deposits. The Zechstein formation now extends across the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom, reaching depths of 1,000–5,000 meters depending on location. The Dutch Zechstein deposits, from which our magnesium is sourced, are accessed at approximately 1,600 meters depth.
📚 Warren JK. Evaporites: A Compendium. Springer International Publishing. 2016. (Chapter 6: Zechstein Evaporites)
📚 Richter-Bernburg G. Zechstein in Germany. In: Peryt TM (ed.). The Zechstein Facies in Europe. Springer, Berlin. 1987.
Nedmag Industries — Production and Quality
The Zechstein Inside® brine used in our products is produced by Nedmag Industries Mining & Manufacturing B.V., located in Veendam, the Netherlands. Nedmag has operated in the Dutch Zechstein deposits since the 1970s and is one of Europe's leading producers of natural magnesium compounds.
Their solution mining operation extracts brine through a carefully managed process designed to protect the geological integrity of the deposit and ensure consistent product quality. Nedmag operates under GMP+ International certification (registration number 18189) — a feed hygiene quality assurance standard that requires rigorous documentation and traceability throughout the production chain.
📚 Nedmag Industries Mining & Manufacturing B.V. Company documentation and GMP+ certification registry. GMP+ International registration 18189. Veendam, Netherlands.
The Magnesium Health Institute — Safety Research
The Magnesium Health Institute (MHI), based in Groningen, the Netherlands, is an independent organization focused on magnesium research, clinical applications, and product safety assessment. Founded and chaired by R. M. Danel, MD — a Dutch physician with medical training from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (1986) — MHI has conducted safety evaluations of Zechstein Inside® ingredients in accordance with EU cosmetics regulations.
Safety Evaluation — ZMB/MHISE01112025 (November 2025)
The most recent MHI safety evaluation of our Zechstein Inside® brine — conducted November 2025 and updated for EU regulatory changes through 2026 — assessed the product for topical skin safety under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Key Conclusions:
-
ZI® Brine is safe to be marketed as an ingredient in finished cosmetic products applied to the skin
-
No undesirable effects are known under normal conditions of use (5–10 sprays daily, 1–2 grams per application)
-
Margin of Safety (MoS) calculated at greater than 100 — meaning you would need to apply over 100 times the normal daily amount before approaching any concern threshold
-
Microbiological quality: no microbial growth due to natural hyper-salinity — no preservatives required
-
Impurities and trace elements: negligible
-
More than 7.5 million kilograms sold globally since 2006 with zero registered safety-related adverse events
📚 Danel RM, MD. Safety Evaluation ZMB/MHISE01112025. Magnesium Health Institute, Groningen, Netherlands. November 2025 (updated 2025–2026).
EU Regulatory Framework
Zechstein Inside® magnesium chloride brine meets or exceeds the requirements of multiple European Union regulatory frameworks:
-
EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 — governing safety of topical cosmetic ingredients, including assessments for nanomaterials, fragrance allergens, and restricted substances
-
EU Feed Hygiene Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 — requiring GMP+ compliance and traceability throughout the production chain
-
EU Directive 2002/32/EC — governing undesirable substances in animal feed, to which the magnesium chloride also conforms
-
REACH Exemption — magnesium chloride is exempted from REACH registration under Annex V of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, indicating it has been assessed at the European regulatory level and determined not to require chemical safety reporting
Batch-Specific Documentation
Unlike most ingredient suppliers, Zechstein Minerals BV provides batch-specific Certificates of Origin — detailed elemental analyses tied to specific production batches, signed by the producer. Our most recent Certificate of Origin (Batch 05 B 25, December 2025, signed by Ir. D. Janse) includes measurements for over 25 individual substances including all major heavy metals.
This level of documentation — signed, batch-specific, publicly available — is rare in the magnesium industry and represents a meaningful standard of transparency.
All documentation referenced on this page — the MHI Safety Evaluation, Certificate of Origin, Purity Statement, and Topical Grade Datasheet — is publicly downloadable on our Purity & Sourcing page. No email required. No request needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Magnesium Health Institute?
A: The Magnesium Health Institute (MHI) is an independent Dutch organization focused on magnesium research, safety evaluation, and clinical applications. Based in Groningen, the Netherlands, MHI conducts safety evaluations of magnesium chloride products for topical use in accordance with EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Their most recent evaluation of Zechstein Inside® brine concludes it is safe for topical marketing.
Q: Who produces Zechstein Inside® magnesium?
A: Zechstein Inside® magnesium chloride brine is produced by Nedmag Industries Mining & Manufacturing B.V. in Veendam, the Netherlands, under license from Zechstein Minerals BV. Nedmag has operated in the Dutch Zechstein deposits since the 1970s and holds GMP+ International certification (registration 18189) governing traceability and production hygiene.
Q: What is a Certificate of Origin for magnesium?
A: A Certificate of Origin is a batch-specific document issued by the producer that records the complete elemental composition of a specific production batch — including heavy metal levels, mineral percentages, density, and other quality parameters. Zechstein Minerals BV issues signed Certificates of Origin for every batch, which are traceable from production to the end distributor. We publish ours publicly on our Purity & Sourcing page.
Q: Is Zechstein magnesium compliant with EU safety regulations?
A: Yes. Zechstein Inside® magnesium chloride brine is assessed and confirmed compliant with EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (updated through 2025–2026), EU Feed Hygiene Regulation (EC) No 183/2005, and EU Directive 2002/32/EC. It is also exempted from REACH registration under Annex V of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 — a designation that reflects its assessment as a safe, naturally occurring mineral compound.
→ View our full sourcing documentation and Certificate of Origin on our Purity & Sourcing page.
→ Not sure where to start? Ask our free AI Magnesium Assistant — it's trained on Kristen's work and available anytime.
