USP Issues Dietary Supplements Compendium

ROCKVILLE, Md.The U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP) released a new collection of standards for the dietary supplement industry; the USP Dietary Supplements Compendium (DSC) includes quality specs (e.g., identity, strength, performance) for more than 500 dietary supplements and ingredients. The DSC also includes regulatory information, guidance documents, details on standard operating procedures (SOPs) and lab testing guidelines. Its quality specs are drawn from its USP-National Formulary and the Food Chemicals Codex.

According to James Griffiths, Ph.D., USPs vice president of food, dietary supplement and excipient standards, the DSC will serve as a critical tool for regulators, dietary supplement manufacturers and related industry companies. He noted, With the current cGMPs [good manufacturing practices] from FDA stipulating dietary supplements manufacturers determine the quality of ingredients they buy from suppliers by setting their own specifications, the DSC can significantly assist manufacturers by providing guidance on suitable specifications, including scientifically valid analytical methods and acceptance criteria.