Types of dietary supplement certifications: GMP, HACCP

Dietary supplements are foodstuffs that contain vitamins and minerals that promote health and well-being. They are available in many different forms, e.g. tablets or liquids. When it comes to the quality of these products, dietary supplement certificates are confirmation.

In this article, we will present you with key information regarding GMP and HACCP certificates, which are one of the most important labels on the Polish market.

Dietary supplement certificates

Before you start – the basic definition of a dietary supplement

According to art. 3 paragraph 39 of the Act of 25 August 2006 on food and nutrition safety (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 2021, as amended), a dietary supplement does not belong to the group of pharmaceuticals, but to food products. Its purpose is to supplement any deficiencies in the diet, it cannot have healing properties or modify the physiological functions of the body through pharmacological, immunological, or metabolic action – these features are demonstrated by medicinal products (according to Article 2(32) of the Act of 6 September 2001 – Pharmaceutical Law).

Dietary supplements cannot have the same certificates as medicinal products, but they can be successfully manufactured in facilities that have pharmaceutical certificates such as GMP.

What is the certification of dietary supplements?

Product certification is the process of awarding certificates to companies or products. It is important that the certification is carried out by third parties (a company cannot certify its own products or activities).

The certificate is a confirmation of meeting all the safety and quality requirements specified therein, as well as specific legal requirements. What are the advantages of introducing dietary supplement certificates? They allow, among others, to make the product credible in the eyes of consumers.

The most important certificates for dietary supplements – GMP and HACCP

In the category of dietary supplements, we can distinguish many certificates – ISO (an international standard standardizing the operation of enterprises, including plants that produce dietary supplements), BIO, GMP, and HACCP. The last two are among the most important, so we will discuss them here in detail.

GMP certificate

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is becoming more and more common. Dietary supplements that have been manufactured taking into account GMP quality standards (i.e. are manufactured in a pharmaceutical facility) will be of a much higher quality than those without a certificate. The certificate of quality of the pharmaceutical inspectorate distinguishes, for example, Laboratorium Galenowe Olsztyn, which operates in accordance with the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice (contained in Directive 2003/94/EC).

The decision to grant the certificate is made by the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, who, during the inspection, is guided by, among others things, the company’s conduct of activities to prevent food safety hazards. Therefore, while the supplement itself cannot have a GMP certificate, obtaining it by the production plant confirms that the manufacturer can be trusted.

HACCP certificate

The HACCP Quality Management System relates directly to food products, including dietary supplements, and is a legal requirement specified in the provisions of the regulation on the hygiene of foodstuffs. It is adapted to each company, taking into account the specifics of its business. Its purpose is to ensure the safety of the final product (e.g. supplement) for the health of every consumer. If a given product has been manufactured in a place guided by the principles of HACCP, the customer can be sure that the supplement consumed has been created in accordance with the best safety practices.

What are the advantages of HACCP? First of all, increased trust in the brand and full compliance with legal regulations. Additionally, the HACCP certificate for dietary supplements guarantees systemic control and proper documentation of each stage of product manufacturing.

You can read more on the HACCP Polska website: https://haccp-polska.pl/haccp-plan-haccp