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US
Pharmacopeia Revs Up Certification Program
Rockville
MD, 8 March 2002
Nature
Made is first product line to be verified
The
United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has announced that Pharmavite Corporation
(based in Northridge CA) is the first company to participate in
USP's Dietary Supplement Verification Program (DSVP). Pharmavite,
one of the nation's largest dietary supplement manufacturers, will
be the first company to submit its Nature Made vitamin and mineral
product line through the DSVP certification process.
"We
are extremely excited to have such a prominent dietary supplement
manufacturer as Pharmavite to be the first company to participate
in our DSVP program," said John Fowler, chief operating officer
at USP. "Pharmavite, who also participated in the DSVP pilot program,
understands the importance of the USP verification program and how
it will help provide confidence and clarity to the dietary supplement
purchaser."
"We
are pleased to participate," said Tom Zimmerman, Pharmavite vice
president for business development. "USP's reputation as a rigorous
and thorough standard setting organization makes our involvement
a logical choice."
The
Dietary Supplement Verification Program (DSVP)
The
DSVP program was launched in November 2001. It was created to help
inform and safeguard the growing number of consumers who use dietary
supplements. The program responds to the need to assure the public
that dietary supplement products contain the ingredients stated
on the product label.
If
a product submitted to DSVP meets USP's rigorous standards, it will
be awarded the DSVP verification mark. The mark helps assure consumers,
health care professionals and supplement retailers that a product:
- Contains
the declared ingredients on the product label
- Contains
the amount or strength of ingredients declared on the product
label
- Meets
requirements for limits on potential contaminants
- Has
been manufactured properly by complying with USP and proposed
FDA standards for "good manufacturing practices" (GMPs)
Use
of the DSVP seal
Once
a Nature Made product meets DSVP's criteria, that dietary supplement
product will be granted the use of the DSVP verification mark for
display on the product's label. t
is expected that Nature Made products will be able to start carrying
the DSVP verification mark in the fall of 2002.
About
Pharmavite Corporation
Founded
in 1971, Pharmavite Corporation manufactures Nature Made® vitamins
and minerals, SAM-e, Nature's Resource® herbal products, Optimize™
fiber/calcium beverages, and other supplements designed to promote
health. Recently voted "Manufacturer of the Year" by the national
trade publication Nutritional Outlook, and recipient of the
2001 Retail Excellence Award in the OTC-natural health category
from Drug Industry News magazine, Pharmavite maintains one
of the largest, most sophisticated research and development facilities
in the industry and was instrumental in developing Good Manufacturing
Practices (GMPs) for supplements. For more information about Pharmavite,
visit www.naturemade.com.
About
the US Pharmacopeia (USP)
USP
is a non-government organization that promotes public health by
establishing state-of-the-art standards to ensure the quality of
medicines and other health care technologies. These standards are
developed by a unique process of public involvement and are recognized
worldwide. USP has six public health programs focusing on promoting
optimal health care: the Dietary Supplement Verification Program,
Pharmacopeial Education, Health Care Information, Patient Safety,
Veterinary Care, and the Public Policy Center. USP is a not-for-profit
organization that achieves its goals through the contributions of
volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other health care
professions, as well as science, academia, government, the pharmaceutical
industry, and consumer organizations. For more information about
USP, visit www.onlinepressroom.net/uspharm.
Source
US
Pharmacopeia news release, 8 March 2002.
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