NSF International plugs its certification program as industry solution

This industry has come under increasing pressure from both within and outside its ranks to regulate more severely.

While some critics outside the industry say it needs increased regulation, the industry itself asserts it is capable of self-regulation.

One proposed means of carrying this out has been the concept of an independent testing program for the entire industry.

NSF International, however, says this already exists in the form of its certification program, but it just needs time to get properly developed.

"We have a solution to that - it is our third party certification program with validated methods," Lori Bestervelt, NSF senior vice president and chief technical officer told NutraIngredients-USA.

"The process is transparent and open to anyone."

NSF said it is governed by the only standard covering the dietary supplements industry, NSF/ANSI Standard 173.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) develops voluntary consensus standards in the United States and accredits organizations such as NSF.

Standard 173 was issued as a draft in 2001 and then approved and issued as a full standard in 2005.

And judging by NSF's experience with other industries, said Bestervelt, this means the program is still in its inception and needs a bit of time to take hold as the standard companies use.

"It can take anywhere from five to ten years to get most of the industry on board," said Bestervelt.

NSF claims it has worked with other industries that faced the same problems as the dietary supplements industries - from bad press to a lack of consensus - and come through to produce a standard certification program.

These other industries include those for: plumbing, water treatment chemicals and devices, electrical and fire safety.

"ANSI requires that you use validated testing methods," said Bestervelt.

"We use the ISO validation process for that."

With regards to the allegation that NSF does not have the budget to propagate information on its program to consumers, Bestervelt said that is not the case.

"We have a pretty big budget to get the word out to consumers."

As part of its campaign to get the message on certification out to consumers, NSF has a website, educational resources and has advertised in publications such as Time magazine, the Wall Street Journal and Prevention magazine.

In addition, Bestervelt commented that NSF's certification program is affordable and that an entirely free independent testing program is not realistic.

"Someone has to bear the cost somewhere."

"We believe this is a bonified solution," said Bestervelt .

"It's worked in other industries."