New GMP Standard from NSF’s GRMA Nearly Complete

Photo © iStockphoto.com/paci77

The Global Retailer and Manufacturer Alliance’s (GRMA) new good manufacturing practices (GMPs) standard for the dietary supplements industry, which will be approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is nearly complete and set for release in early 2017. NSF International (Ann Arbor, MI), which formed the GRMA in 2014, announced the approaching release date last week.

This will be the first standard released under the GRMA initiative, an NSF-led group that includes trade associations, academic experts, government agencies, certification bodies, and other stakeholders working on issues of improved quality, safety, and regulatory compliance, NSF explains. The philosophy behind this new standard for dietary supplements-as well as other standards GRMA is developing for cosmetic products and over-the-counter drugs-is to combine regulatory and retailer requirements into a single, ANSI-approved GMP standard.

“These GMP standards will reduce the number and associated cost of audits, while strengthening safety, quality, and trust throughout the supply chain,” NSF explains, in its announcement. “With these standards, manufacturers can trust their suppliers, retailers can trust manufacturers, and the consumer can trust the product, all of which benefits the entire industry.”

The new standard can also be used as a companion to the official American National Standard for dietary supplement products, ANSI/NSF 173, NSF notes.

“It’s not easy to meet the ANSI Essential Requirements, but this effort assures that the standard defines expectations of all stakeholders,” says Joe Bhatia, president of ANSI, in the standard announcement. “Lesser documents rushed to market may not hold up to requirements demanded by industry. The ANSI process is a proven benchmark providing confidence and managing risk, and we are proud to continue to work with NSF International as it leads development of crucial standards for health and safety.”

GRMA includes on its governance board retailer members, including Costco, HEB, Walgreens, and Wegmans, as well as manufacturer members, such as First Quality Products, Perrigo, United Exchange Corp, and Vi-Jon. At a recent GRMA meeting held in August, more than 100 representatives from store-brand retailers, trade associations, manufacturers, academia, certification bodies, industry consultants, and regulatory agencies were in attendance, according to NSF.

“We encourage all interested parties, retailers, manufacturers, trade associations, certification bodies, government, and academia to join this industry initiative,” says Casey Coy, NSF International’s program manager for the GRMA program. “The GRMA standards will represent improved audit uniformity, competence and quality that will be independent, fair, robust and trusted, providing a benchmark of transparency for vendors, retailers, regulators, and consumers.”

Read more:

GNC’s New Mandatory Supplier-GMP Initiative: As GNC Goes, So Goes Industry?

2016 FDA Warning Letters: Top Takeaways (So Far)

NSF International Extends Dietary Supplement Certification Programs to Europe

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com