Recent certifications & approvals.

Based on an independent and collective scientific evaluation, an expert panel has granted Luravida omega 3 cranberry seed oil, from AHD International, Atlanta, GA, GRAS (generally recognized as safe) approval. The product is a fruit-based omega 3, 6 and 9 oil that is 100% natural, vegetarian and stable. It also contains naturally occurring antioxidants featuring eight isomers of vitamin E and phospholipids. AHD utilizes a cold-press extrusion process containing no solvents, oxygen or enzymes. The oil is of North American origin and is non-irradiated and GMO-free. The expert panel consisted of a former FDA toxicologist and two scientific members from AIBMR Life Sciences, Puyallup, WA.

IQ Net has granted Pharmline, Florida, NY, ISO-9001 certification as part of a strategic move to strengthen its quality assurance procedures. The action is complementary to several moves taken by the company since January, including GMP re-certification by NPA. The new certification is designed to assure the integrity and quality of the ingredients Pharmline supplies to the market. Pharmline currently is implementing enhanced HACCP systems to gain more comprehensive certification later this year.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) recently finalized its positive assessment of Clarinol CLA from Lipid Nutrition, Wormerveer, The Netherlands, in the EU's Novel Food registration process. The opinion has been submitted to the European Commission and other Member States, representing a significant step forward in allowing Clarinol to be used in food products throughout Europe. Clarinol is said to stimulate the breakdown of body fat and increase lean muscle mass.

The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has issued a positive opinion on four more bisglycinate chelates from Albion, Saint Clair Shores, Ml: calcium, magnesium zinc and copper. The Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC) concluded that calcium bisglycinate and magnesium bisglycinate, as sources for calcium and magnesium respectively, are not a safety concern when added to foods or food supplements for nutritional purposes. Likewise, the panel found that zinc bisglycinate chelate was not a safety concern when used as a source of zinc in foods intended for the general population; in foods for particular nutritional purposes; or in food supplements. Copper bisglycinate was also not a safety concern as a source of copper added for nutritional purposes to food supplements.