SIDI Initiative Aims to Streamline Ingredient Info Sharing

WASHINGTON—A new voluntary industry-wide protocol—Standardized Information on Dietary Ingredients (SIDI)—was developed to facilitate efficient exchange of information between ingredient suppliers and finished product manufacturers. A cooperative effort between the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and Natural Products Association (NPA) resulted in development of the product information guideline.

According to the groups, there has been wide variance in the type of vendor questionnaires used by ingredient buyers and sellers, which has led to some market confusion and discrepancies. The SIDI initiative was inspired by the work of the excipients industry and has resulted in three standardized information sheets.

The Product Information Data Sheet is now available on each of the trade association’s Web sites (www.ahpa.org, www.chpa-info.org, www.crnusa.org, www.naturalproductsassoc.org). The other two sections are under review and are due to be posted by early 2007. In addition to the standardized documents, visitors can find blank template forms and completed sample forms to serve as examples.

According to the groups, the SIDI protocol is not designed to address every piece of information that a manufacturer might desire for a given ingredient; however, it should eliminate inconsistent and inaccurate information, speed information exchange, and provide a framework for suppliers to proactive develop information packages. Use of the SIDI protocol is voluntary, although the SIDI team urges its use industry-wide to provide manufacturers with consistent, detailed information across multiple suppliers and product lines.