PITTSBURGH, June 29 /PRNewswire/– The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule last Friday that establishes regulations for current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) for dietary supplements. Under the new provisions, the FDA will require that supplements are produced in a quality manner, are free of contaminants and are accurately labeled.
GNC, which has long committed itself to quality assurance, strict manufacturing processes and truth in labeling, supports the FDA in its new requirement and is glad to see that the entire industry will now be held to higher standards – standards similar to those GNC has followed for decades.
The cGMP requirements have a three-year phase-in period depending on company size. Companies with more than 500 employees must comply by 2008, companies with fewer than 500 employees must comply by June 2009, and companies with fewer than 20 employees have until June 2010 to comply with the new regulations.
Unlike other retailers, GNC actually manufactures its own products and already requires multiple quality and safety checks.
"We test our raw materials extensively and also check for purity, potency, freshness and package integrity," said Guru Ramanathan, Ph.D., senior vice president of scientific affairs at the company's Pittsburgh headquarters. "We work hard to ensure the absolute safety of our products for consumers. We stand behind our high standards and fully support these federal regulations to improve the industry as a whole."
Good nutrition is essential to good health – and supplementing is a simple and cost-effective way of supporting good nutrition. GNC recognizes that, when it comes to supplementing for good nutrition, supplement safety must come foremost. The company believes the new FDA rule will strengthen the safety of dietary supplements and further increase consumer confidence in these products as a means of reaching good nutrition and overall health.
About GNC:
GNC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products; including vitamin, mineral, herbal and other specialty supplements and sports nutrition, diet and energy products. GNC has more than 4,800 retail locations throughout the United States (including more than 1,000 franchise and 1,200 Rite Aid store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in 48 international markets. The company – which is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well – also offers products and product information online at http://www.gnc.com/.
SOURCE: General Nutrition Centers, Inc. (GNC)
CONTACT: GNC Public Relations, +1-412-288-2043
Web site: http://www.gnc.com/
