Washington, D.C., February 26, 2020—The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, applauds the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) as it launches a new pilot accreditation program under the Global Retail and Manufacturer Alliance (GRMA) certification scheme, which incorporates the NSF/ANSI 455-2-2018 standard, Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements.
Last year, CRN welcomed the release of the NSF/ANSI standard to evaluate a dietary supplement firm’s adherence to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs). The program is now moving into its next phase and offering an opportunity for third party conformity assessment bodies to become accredited to conduct audits using the NSF/ANSI standard. This will allow third party auditors in the dietary supplement field to become qualified to use the single set of standards when evaluating manufacturers for GMP compliance. The NSF/ANSI 455-2-2018 standard is part of an important self-regulatory initiative developed in collaboration with GRMA, of which CRN is a member.
“CRN is pleased to see the next stage of the audit scheme is underway, as formally accrediting certifying bodies to use the single, uniform NSF/ANSI standard will lead to more consistent outcomes. That makes it easier for manufacturers to demonstrate GMP compliance to retailers and consumers,” said Megan Olsen, vice president and associate general counsel, CRN. “We recognize the significance of establishing uniform requirements to bring predictability and consistency across certifying bodies which will improve the overall audit process and increase consumer confidence in the industry. More than three-quarters of Americans take dietary supplements, so it is increasingly important that responsible companies demonstrate that they comply with the law and reassure consumers that each product meets the strict expectations of regulators, retailers and consumers before it goes to market.”
ANAB began accepting applications for the pilot accreditation program on Feb. 12 of this year and will continue through April 12. For more information on the program, visit the ANAB website.
Note to Editor: The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.