EBF Releases Quality Guide for Botanical Food Supplements

Named “Quality Guide for Botanical Food Supplements”, the publication seeks to promote best practice in the production – including manufacturing, quality control, packaging, distribution and storage – of food supplements containing botanicals and botanical preparations.

6 Nov 2012 --- The European Botanical Forum (EBF) has published a guide to help manufacturers of botanical food supplements ensure the quality of their products.

Named “Quality Guide for Botanical Food Supplements”, the publication seeks to promote best practice in the production – including manufacturing, quality control, packaging, distribution and storage – of food supplements containing botanicals and botanical preparations.

The 120-page guide was compiled with the technical assistance of experts from EBF member companies and its member associations, and builds on both quality guidelines for food supplements and those specifically applied by leading botanical food and food supplement manufacturers.

It includes sections on quality management, food premises and equipment, personnel and training, hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP), safety, product and process development, manufacture, recovery or re-working of materials, warehousing, transport and distribution, documentation complaints procedures, as well as product recall and emergency procedures, self inspections and laboratory testing.

The guide also incorporates mandatory requirements from European Union legislation as well as recommended requirements based on examples of best practices.

“While the mandatory requirements are obligatory, the guide’s recommended requirements should be incorporated into the production operations where appropriate and practical, as determined by the manufacturer,” said EBF Chair Sindy Staessen. “Food supplements have to comply with all relevant aspects of food legislation in terms of composition, manufacture and control, and this publication has paid particular attention to these requirements. It is intended to provide guidelines for the promotion of best practice in the production of botanical food supplements sold in the EU.”

The European Botanical Forum is dedicated to addressing scientific and regulatory aspects of botanicals and botanical ingredients as foodstuffs. It strives to contribute to the optimal safety and appropriate labelling of these products and to secure their free and sustainable access for consumers using them for health purposes.