While manufacturers wait for the FDA to finalize the GMPs, the United States
Pharmacopeia has started the Dietary Supplement Verification Program. To receive
the USP-DSVP certification mark, a product must contain the declared ingredients
on the product label; contain the amount or strength of ingredients declared
on the product label; meet requirements for limits on potential contaminants;
and have been manufactured properly by complying with USP and proposed FDA standards
for “good manufacturing practices.”
“The DSVP and other programs are just trying to build consumer confidence,
and from the health care professional perspective, how can they recommend one
supplement over the other. This could give them an extra feeling of confidence
that someone else has looked at this. All these programs are designed to help
bridge the gap while wait for the FDA to finalize the GMPs,” said Doug
Jones, public relations manager, Pharmavite LLC. “The UPC has introduced
its dietary supplement verification program, and we were the first manufacturer
to participate. It gives that extra seal of approval because it is a non-governmental,
non-public organization.”
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