The organization, which represents manufacturers of herbal products, voted in the revised trade requirements last month.
The new policy will impact products that may include ingredients that are either heavy metal compounds or herbs that are processed with heavy metals and are based on any tradition, said AHPA.
As of September 4, 2009, AHPA members – who are bound to adhere to the group’s policies – must comply with the following:
“Whereas some traditions, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, may include ingredients that are heavy metal compounds or herbs that are processed with heavy metals; and whereas the presence of several of these heavy metals in dietary supplements sold in the United States may cause such supplement products to be adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act; therefore, manufacturers and marketers of products that are based on such traditions refrain from inclusion in such products of any ingredient that is processed with metals if the resultant presence of heavy metal(s) causes the product containing the ingredient(s) to be adulterated under labeled or ordinary conditions of use.”