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Testing

NSF International Announces Quality Certification Program
12 February 2001

ANN ARBOR, MI -- NSF International (NSF) today announced the implementation of a new dietary supplement certification program. NSF seeks to offer a unique, independent, third party, product evaluation services to the dietary supplements industry.

According to Dennis R. Mangino, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of NSF, "In the past several years, the dietary supplement industry has experienced very rapid growth. With that growth has come questions from consumers and from government regarding the public health safety and consistency of these products. Our new program is designed to assist manufacturers in answering those questions."

NSF has global experience in certification

NSF International tests and certifies more than 130,000 products worldwide. With global expertise in standards development, product certification, management systems registration and educational services, NSF is the only organization designated as a Collaborating Centre by the World Health Organization for both food safety and for drinking water safety and treatment. Founded in 1944, NSF is an independent, not-for-profit organization, with offices and laboratories throughout the world.

Plant inspections and product testing

Verification of ingredients listed on product labels and contaminant testing are the centerpiece of the NSF program, along with independent plant inspections. Contaminant testing will be used to check for the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, and mycotoxins (poisons produced by fungi). Testing of ingredients also includes checking for marker compounds.

Website listings and NSF marks

To help consumers identify NSF certified products, dietary supplements receiving certification will be allowed to display the NSF mark.

Also, all certified products will be listed on the NSF International website, www.nsf.org -- which gives consumers free access to this information.

Industry views NSF certification in positive light

"The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and its members want to draw a sharper dividing line between products that are properly manufactured and meet label claims -- and those that are not," said John Cardellina, CRN Vice President for Botanical Science. "The program outlined by NSF International certainly is poised to shine a bright light on products manufactured to high standards of quality."

"Any program that is able to assure consumers they are getting quality products is a valuable service to the industry," according to Joseph Betz, PhD, Vice President for Scientific and Technical Affairs, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). "NSF has the infrastructure and the expertise to implement such a program."

Certification program a plus for consumers

According to the NSF, consumers can be assured that products with the NSF mark are well made (are produced with solid GMP practices), contain the ingredients listed on the label in the potencies shown, and are contaminant free. The NSF mark joins several other quality seals available to help consumers choose quality products and buy with confidence.

Sources

NSF International. "NSF International Announces Dietary Supplements Certification Program." Press release, NSF International, Ann Arbor MI, 12 February 2001.end-of-story


 

 

   
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