Canadian contract research organisation, Nutrasource Diagnostics, which performs the product and production IFOS audits, said the consumer-focused programme was expanding.
“Beyond certifying brand name omega-3 products, IFOS will now certify raw material suppliers to further demonstrate and showcase to consumers, retailers and other stakeholder groups the nutritional quality, stability and purity of this industry group in an even more transparent way,” said William Rowe, president and CEO of NDI and co-founder of the IFOS scheme.
UK-based Croda, which supplies oils into the cosmetics, nutrition and pharma sectors, achieved ‘5-Star Supplier Certification’ that demands:
- The manufacturing facility is an approved and registered food/dietary supplement manufacturing facility with an appropriate certification.
- The company and/or product has been registered in accordance with the regulatory authorities’ requirements where the product is produced.
- The analytical methods used have met the IFOS standard of testing.
- Each lot of certified IFOS raw material has been individually inspected and reviewed for IFOS program compliance.
- The product has met the IFOS Consumer Report 5-Star Rating Criteria.
In 2011 Croda gained a ‘gold standard’ for responsible production methods from the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation (IFFO).
The ‘responsible standard‘ was achieved after independent auditors visited its UK facility in September, 2011, and delivered a positive good manufacturing practice (GMP) report on safety, traceability and purity for its fish oil conversion processes.
IFOS is a member of the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED). More about the group can be found here.