Global public health organization NSF International (NSF) was recently accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to certify manufacturers to the NSF/ANSI 455 GMP standards. This accreditation allows NSF to expand its dietary supplement Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification program to include manufacturers of cosmetics/personal care and over-the-counter (OTC) products. NSF is the first independent certifier to begin auditing and certifying manufacturers to the new GMP standards.
The NSF/ANSI 455 GMP standards are designed to strengthen safety, quality, and trust throughout the supply chain; combine regulatory requirements with retailer quality requirements; and reduce the number of audits and financial costs associated with audits.
Separate from NSF’s certification program, NSF’s standards-development arm worked with industry representatives, public health officials, regulators, and consumer interest groups over the last five years to develop the NSF/ANSI 455 GMP audit standards. The standards include detailed requirements for:
- Dietary supplements (NSF/ANSI 455-2)
- Cosmetics/personal care products (NSF/ANSI 455-3)
- Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs (NSF/ANSI 455-4)
“Independent certification to NSF/ANSI 455 GMP demonstrates a manufacturer’s commitment to quality and Good Manufacturing Practices,” says Katie Fillinger, certification program manager at NSF International.
Manufacturers earning NSF certification receive a certificate bearing both the ANAB and NSF marks. Together, these marks send a powerful signal to suppliers, vendors, and clients.
NSF International is currently transitioning dietary supplement clients from its previous GMP registration program (NSF/ANSI 173 Section 8) to NSF/ANSI 455 GMP certification, which it expects will help reduce the annual audit burden of manufacturers. NSF is also working with new customers not previously GMP-registered.