GRMA and IPA partner to harmonize GMP requirements for probiotics

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The Global Retailer and Manufacturer Alliance (GRMA; King of Prussia, PA) has partnered with the International Probiotics Association (IPA) to establish a Probiotics Working group that will harmonize GMP requirements for probiotic dietary supplements.

“Harmonized certification for probiotics is much needed. Probiotics are a unique category and need to be treated as such when they are being manufactured as finished products,” said George Paraskevakos, IPA executive director, in a press release. “Increasing quality standards through a certification program will ensure consumers and healthcare professionals have access to probiotic products that have been manufactured with high quality standards and deliver benefits.”

Probiotics face unique challenges and certain GMP elements have a heightened impact on key product attributes, including shelf life, stability, and efficacy. The working group will focus on addressing these challenges by evaluating the requirements within both the IPA Manufacturing Guidelines and NSF/ANSI 455-2 standard for dietary supplements. The primary goal is to develop a harmonized set of GMP requirements under the GRMA certification program and help reduce audit tourism.

“A harmonized approach not only will ensure quality but also remove confusion in the market which will help consumers make informed decisions when choosing quality probiotics,” added Paraskevakos.

“Providing a consistent set of manufacturing practices and requirements enables the consumer, manufacturer, and retailer to all win,” stated Allyn Shultis, executive director of the GRMA. “We are really excited to launch the new working group focused on harmonizing the IPA GMP requirements with the publicly accredited consensus standard, 455-2, for dietary supplements.”