Manufacturing information beyond GMPs

It has become more common for FDA inspectors to ask questions about ingredient forms, justifications regarding the combinations of ingredients and the suggested serving size during their cGMP (current good manufacturing practice) inspections. These questions can be considered “data collection inquiries,” which are FDA’s way of gathering information on topics of interest:

These “data collection inquiries” are not typical questions for a 21 CFR 111, “cGMP in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements” FDA inspection because there isn’t a specific requirement in the regulation being cited. These questions are relevant to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) itself.

In section 8, DSHEA states a dietary supplement must only contain dietary ingredients “which have been present in the food supply (prior to Oct. 15, 1994) as an article used for food in a form in which the food has not been chemically altered” and “there is a history of use or other evidence of safety establishing that the dietary ingredient when used under the conditions recommended or suggested in the labeling of the dietary supplement will reasonably be expected to be safe.” If these criteria are not met, the ingredient is defined as a new dietary ingredient (NDI) and a NDI notification must be submitted to FDA for review at least 75 days before the product is marketed in accordance to 21 CFR 190, Subpart B. In 21 CFR 190(b)(3).

Read the rest of this article and learn more about legal compliance issues surrounding herbs and other innovative ingredients in INSIDER’s botanicals digital magazine.

EAS independent advisor for dietary supplements, Timothy Stewart, holds a doctorate in chemistry and advises clients on FTC, attorney general and FDA regulatory compliance issues such as customs and border patrol, import alerts, state and federal observations/violations, consent decrees, California Proposition 65 requirements, and vendor qualifications. Prior to consulting, he worked in the dietary supplement industry as a quality control manager and researcher at Harvard Medical School and the University of Southern California.