NSF International, a US supplement certification body, announced this week that it has acquired the Institute for Nutraceutical Advancement (INA), an organisation that develops and validates analytical methods for testing botanical ingredients. NSF will continue INA's methods development and validation mission through the NSF Dietary Supplements Program and the INA Methods Validation Program will be an integral part of the NSF certification process. INA developed its Methods Validation Program in response to the botanical products industry's growing need for worldwide consistency in ingredient testing methodologies. The program brings together suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, marketing companies, growers and independent laboratories from the botanical products industry, who collaborate to develop and validate analytical testing methodologies for global use. The NSF Dietary Supplements Certification Program helps to build credibility for manufacturers by verifying to consumers that their products contain the ingredient identities and quantities on their labels, do not contain specific undeclared contaminants and conform to good manufacturing practices. "We are extremely pleased and excited to continue INA's valuable work for the botanical products industry," said Ray Jaglowski, NSF Vice President of New Business Development. "The organisation's recognised expertise in methods development and validation will help us enhance credibility for botanical ingredient suppliers whose products are tested and certified through the NSF Dietary Supplements Certification Program." INA is a non-corporate division of Denver-based Industrial Laboratories, an independent organisation that provides analytical and consulting services to the natural products industry.
