Nature's Way, Wakunaga of America Receive NNFA's GMP Certification

Nature's Way (Springville, UT) and Wakunaga of America Co. Ltd. (Mission Viejo, CA) have become the first companies to pass the National Nutritional Foods Association's (NNFA; Newport Beach, CA) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification program. As a symbol of their GMP-certified status, each company is granted use of a specially designed NNFA GMP seal for placement on all product labels to assure consumers their products meet strict quality standards.

NNFA's self-regulatory program was developed as part of the association's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety, quality, purity, and label integrity of dietary supplements for consumers. Participation in this third-party certification program is mandatory for all NNFA members who supply dietary supplements and will be phased in over three years.

Under NNFA's GMP program, a third party inspects manufacturing facilities to determine whether NNFA-specified standards are being met. These standards include specifications for testing of raw and finished materials, staff training, cleanliness, equipment maintenance, and record keeping. While Nature's Way and Wakunaga of America are the first two manufacturers to participate in the process, more than 30 suppliers have signed up to go through the audit, and by 2002, all NNFA member manufacturers will be certified.

NNFA is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing the natural products industry. The organization is made up of nearly 4,000 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health and beauty aids.

Nature's Way, a Murdock Madaus Schwabe company, is involved in the research and development of herbal and phytomedicine products.

Wakunaga of America Co. Ltd. is best known for its Kyolic-brand Aged Garlic Extract and Kyo-Dophilus Acidophilus formulas.

For more information: Michael Q. Ford, Executive Director, National Nutritional Foods Association, 3931 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 101, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Tel: 949-622-6272. Fax: 949-622-6266.