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

For more information: www.europeanbotanicalforum.org