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Quality
Control for the Natural Products Industry
By Justin Laboe, Herb Research Foundation
Quality control is a critical issue for all members of the
botanical and natural products industries. Companies seeking
long-term growth need to be committed to providing the highest
quality products, ![]() knowing
that customers will reward businesses that consistently provide
them with high quality goods. During the latter half of the
1990s, a time at which consumer demand for herbal medicines
was growing exponentially, herbal supplement manufacturers had
a difficult time ensuring that their raw materials - and, consequently,
their products - were of consistently good quality. Perceived
problems with quality control leave a sour taste in the mouths
of consumers, making them less likely to experiment with herbal
products again. This reflects poorly on individual businesses
and, more importantly, can have disastrous effects on the industry
as a whole. Lastly, effective quality control measures help
businesses meet national and international legal standards for
purity and cleanliness, which are required for all food products.
A commitment to producing the highest quality botanical product
begins before the ground is prepared for planting. Seed quality
is one of the most important factors in determining the quality
of the final product. Herb growers should locate a reliable
source of pure seed with predictably good characteristics or
another reliable method of propagating desirable cultivars.
Cultivation practices also affect the quality of the final product,
including nutrient management, pest control, and weeding. Strict
attention to quality control details during the harvest, primary
processing, and storing of botanicals will further ensure herb
purity and prevent contamination of crops with insects, molds
and bacteria, and debris. In addition, cleanliness and other
quality standards are of utmost importance in the final manufacturing,
packaging and marketing of natural products.
Government Regulations
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
All food products sold for consumption in the United States,
including imported products, must meet legal standards intended
to protect the health of the people who eat them. The Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1956 (FFDCA) gives the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to define maximum
allowable levels for chemical, biological, and physical contaminants
in food products and the means to enforce these regulations.
Food products that do not meet FDA standards are considered
adulterated, cannot be sold in the US, and must either be destroyed
or returned to the country of origin. FDA standards, or "Food
Defect Action Levels" (DALs) for physical and biological contaminants,
exist for each food product. Many of these are available online.
Some products (including most herbs used as dietary supplement
ingredients) have no determined Defect Action Levels and are
evaluated by the FDA on a case-by-case basis. Importers are
usually familiar with requirements and will provide specifications
that exporters must meet. The FDA also enforces laws concerning
pesticide residues in food, although the Environmental Protection
Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) determines the maximum
allowable levels. Before 1996, the FFCDA demanded a "zero tolerance"
policy towards pesticide residues. This was seen as unrealistic
and impossible to enforce both by industry groups and government
agencies, and the law was amended to allow for exemptions and
tolerance levels for specific pesticides on certain crops. Some
pesticides are completely banned and any detectable levels render
the food adulterated. The OPP maintains an online database of
tolerance levels. However, exporters and producers are advised
to contact the EPA for the most current information, as the
regulations are revised frequently.
Continued
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 We
Want Your Input!
The Herb Research
Foundation is pleased to present the seventh issue of A-SNAPP
Update, an online newsletter for African growers and producers,
A-SNAPP partners, international buyers, and others interested
in the A-SNAPP project. We need your input to make A-SNAPP
Update a success! In particular, we are seeking stories
on individual African farms and businesses, traditional African
medicine, protection of endangered African plants, and other
issues important to you and your business. If you would like
to be profiled as a featured business in A-SNAPP Update
or have an idea for a story, please contact Krista Morien at
kmorien@herbs.org.
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