Each country has its own specific market regulations when it comes to product standards. For instance, if you have a company in the U.S. and want to sell in China, you have to ensure your company follows both the U.S. and China’s product regulations to be able to sell in both countries.
It’s a tricky balance to strike, but for USANA Health Sciences, it’s an essential measure. As a provider of holistic, health-focused products in 25 markets, it’s not just good business to provide superior quality nutritionals that meet international standards—it’s the ethical thing to do.
Let’s take a look at quality assurance regulations when it comes to producing vitamins and supplements, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Quality Standards for Vitamins and Supplements
Believe it or not, vitamins and supplements don’t have to be vetted by the FDA to be produced in the US. While pharmaceuticals need to adhere to strict quality standards enforced by federal law, supplements have some basic regulations. The FDA requires supplement manufacturers to follow their Current Good Manufacturing Production (CGMP), but you’ll never see an FDA-approved sticker on a dietary supplement. And, worryingly, supplements can be sold even if they aren’t vetted by any sort of regulatory body.
However, there are some organizations that vet the quality of dietary supplements, including the US Pharmacopeia (USP). If you ever see a bottle of vitamins with a USP Verified mark on their label, that means the company that manufactures them has submitted their product to the USP and, after stringent testing, been approved.
How USANA Ensures Quality in Its Products
In their dedication to the health of all of their customers, Affiliates, and Associates, USANA holds itself to incredibly strict standards. They vet their ingredients and products through every step of the manufacturing process—from ensuring the producers of the raw materials they use are delivering quality ingredients to keeping a library full of meticulous information on every one of their products to maintain consistency and quality in every supplement they make.
They have also submitted their products to multiple organizations for third-party product quality verification, including National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). As an NSF-certified production center, they don’t just get a one-off approval; this organization regularly conducts inspections to ensure that USANA continues to hold themselves to the highest standards possible in terms of sanitation and product quality.
Beyond USANA’s regular testing and inspections with the USP and NSF, they’re also a member of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), which labels itself as an “association of respected dietary supplement and natural health companies dedicated to safety, science and quality through advocacy, education and community.” In USANA’s work with the UNPA, they strive to continue to do right by their consumers and science itself by adhering to the highest standards.
Clearly, USANA is dedicated to product quality. Even with so many rigid guidelines, USANA does everything they can to be sure they’re putting out the best products.
Regulations Outside of the U.S.
USANA products are available in 25 markets, and their products ship around the world. This includes many countries with different quality standards USANA has to meet so they can be approved to sell in those markets.
Here are a few of the markets where USANA products are sold, along with the regulation standards they need to meet:
Australia
Unlike in the U.S., Australia has strict regulation policies on dietary supplements, which must be vetted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). In order to sell products in Australia, USANA not only needs to have the TGA approve the products that are shipped over to the country, but the TGA regularly sends agents to USANA’s facility as part of its rigorous inspection process to ensure the laboratory and manufacturing center meet their standards.
Europe
In Europe, dietary supplements are regulated as food, so they need to be vetted by the European Food Safety Association (EFSA). The EFSA conducts rigorous testing for any and all foods and supplements that claim to affect the user’s nutrition or health.
Dedicated to the Health of All
USANA cares about more than burning fat or having clear skin—they want to give everyone the chance to live healthy lives, inside and out. Because of that, they can’t accept anything less than the best when it comes to manufacturing.
One of their foremost beliefs is that great science needs rigorous testing and meticulous manufacturing. Because of this, they are dedicated to backing their products with verifiable proof through intensive research and development along with a six-stage development process for each one before it’s delivered to your door.
So next time you pick up a USANA product or sell them as an Associate, know that these nutritionals are backed by the highest standards for a dietary supplement—in the US and beyond.
