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AHPA develops guidance policies to advance our Mission to promote responsible commerce in herbal supplements. These policies address a variety of labeling and manufacturing issues and reflect the consensus of AHPAs members and its Board of Trustees. Unlike AHPAs trade recommendations, compliance with AHPAs guidance policies is not a condition of membership. Nevertheless, AHPA encourages its members and non-member companies to adopt each of these policies in the interest of establishing consistent and informed trade practices.

AHPA Guidance Policies

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Guidance on Heavy Metals (adopted October 2008; revised November 2009)

Dietary supplement manufacturers determine what, if any, tests or examinations are appropriate for their products, whether to meet specications established for these products or for other purposes. With respect to herbal supplements, there are a variety of heavy metals for which companies may consider implementing tests or examinations, if appropriate. This guidance discusses some of the more commonly used ones. Not all of these, however, are applicable to every herbal supplement, and others not included here may be relevant for some such products. Where manufacturers choose to establish one or heavy metal specications for herbal supplements, AHPA provides the following as guidance on maximum quantitative limits:

for inorganic arsenic; 10 mcg/day; for cadmium; 4.1 mcg/day; for lead: 10 mcg/day; for methyl mercury: 2.0 mcg/day.

For purposes of this guidance the following definition applies:

Herbal supplement means a dietary supplement, as described in 21 U.S.C. 321 (ff), that contains one or more herbal ingredients (i.e., an herb or other botanical, or a concentrate, extract, or combination of an herb or other botanical). An herbal supplement may or may not contain additional non-herbal dietary ingredients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.) or excipients.

In addition, for purposes of this guidance the following limitations and conditions apply:

This guidance is not intended to suggest that manufacturers should establish specications for any or all of the identied heavy metals in any specic herbal supplement, but is rather intended to provide guidance for limits in the event any such specications are set. This guidance is not, in fact, applicable for some herbal supplements. In addition, it may not be relevant to test any specic herbal supplement to determine the level of any or all of the heavy metals identied in this guidance. The above quantitative limits are determined at the highest labeled dose of a supplement, and are applicable only to herbal supplements that are consumed in a total daily amount of 5 grams or less. A product in compliance with this guidance may require a warning in order to comply with California Proposition 65s listing of these chemicals. [Note: Click here for more information on Proposition 65]

Guidance on Microbiology & Mycotoxins (adopted June 2003; last revised November 2009)
Food ingredient suppliers, dietary ingredient suppliers, and dietary supplement manufactures determine what, if any, tests or examinations are appropriate for their ingredients and products, whether to meet specications established for these ingredients and products or for other purposes.

With respect to herbal ingredients and supplements, there are a variety of microbiological characteristics and mycotoxins for which companies may consider implementing tests or examinations, if appropriate. This guidance discusses some of the more commonly used ones. Not all of these, however, are applicable to every herbal ingredient and supplement, and others not included here may be relevant for some herbal ingredients or supplements. Where manufacturers choose to establish one or more microbiological and/or mycotoxin specications for herbal ingredients or dietary supplements identied in this guidance, AHPA provides the following as guidance on maximum quantitative limits: (a) (i) for dried, unprocessed herbs for use as ingredients in dietary supplements, and (ii) for herbal supplements in solid form consisting of dried, unprocessed herbs:

Total aerobic plate count: 107 colony forming units/gram Total yeasts and molds: 105 colony forming units/gram Total coliforms: 104 colony forming units/gram Salmonella spp.: not detected in 10 grams Escherichia coli: not detected in 10 grams Total aatoxins (B1 + B2 + G1 + G2): 20 g/kg (ppb)

Aatoxin B1: 5 g/kg (ppb)

and (b) (i) for powdered extracts and for soft extracts, and (ii) for herbal supplements in solid form consisting of powdered extracts or soft extracts:

Total aerobic plate count: 104 colony forming units/gram Total yeasts and molds: 103 colony forming units/gram Total coliforms: 102 colony forming units/gram Salmonella spp.: not detected in 10 grams Escherichia coli: not detected in 10 grams Total aatoxins (B1 + B2 + G1 + G2): 20 g/kg (ppb)

Aatoxin B1: 5 g/kg (ppb)

For purposes of this guidance the following definitions apply:

Dried unprocessed herb means an herb or other botanical that is dehydrated from its fresh state and that has not been subjected to any further processing other than cleaning, grading, or size reduction (e.g., cutting or powdering). Dietary supplement has the same meaning as described in 21 U.S.C. 321 (ff). For purposes of this guidance a dietary supplement is a product in nished form ready for consumer use. Herbal supplement means a dietary supplement, as described in 21 U.S.C. 321 (ff), that contains one or more herbal ingredients (i.e., an herb or other botanical, or a concentrate, extract, or combination of an herb or other botanical). An herbal supplement may or may not contain additional non-herbal dietary ingredients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.) or excipients. Botanical extract means the complex, multi-component mixture obtained after using a solvent to dissolve components of an herbal or other botanical biomass. Botanical extracts may be in dry, liquid or semi-solid form. Excipients may be added to botanical extracts for various technical purposes (e.g., to adjust concentration; enhance stability; limit microbial growth; or improve drying, ow or other manufacturing characteristics). Botanical extracts are not the same as expressed juices, pure chemicals isolated from an herb, or synthetically modied plant constituents (though it should be noted that some chemical modications might occur as the natural consequence of the extraction process). Powdered extract means a botanical extract that has been dried into a powder. Soft (a.k.a. pilular, semi-solid, or solid) extract means a botanical extract having a consistency of a thick liquid or paste.

In addition, for purposes of this guidance the following limitations and conditions apply:

This guidance is not intended to suggest that manufacturers should establish specications for any or all of the identied microbiological characteristics or mycotoxins in any specic herbal ingredient or supplement, but is rather intended to provide guidance for limits in the event any such specications are set. This guidance is not, in fact, applicable for some herbal ingredients and supplements. In addition, it may not be relevant to test any specic herbal ingredient or supplement to determine the level of any or all of the microbiological characteristics or mycotoxins identied in this guidance. In determining whether Salmonella spp. and E. coli are not detected, the sample size may vary depending on the method used. Depending on the analytical methods used to detect Salmonella spp. or E. coli, failure to detect a microorganism may be reported as absent, not detected, negative, or less than the detection limit. For dried, unprocessed herbs for use as ingredients in dietary supplements, the above quantitative limits may be exceeded in either of the following circumstances:

When, due to naturally occurring conditions, an individual herb requires higher limits on total aerobic plate count, total yeasts and molds, and/or total coliforms. When acceptable techniques, such as steam sterilization, will be employed in subsequent processing to eliminate pathogens. However, such treatment is not acceptable if the untreated materials are spoiled prior to such treatment.

For dietary supplements in solid form, the above quantitative limits do not apply to products where boiling water is added before use and may not apply to products containing other dietary ingredients (such as vitamins and minerals) and excipients.

Standardized Information on Dietary Ingredients (SIDI) (adopted July 2007)

AHPA recommends that its members who buy and sell dietary ingredients use the Standardized Information on Dietary Ingredients (SIDI) protocol as a standard reporting form for providing information about these ingredients. [Note: Click Here for more information on SIDI and to be taken to the SIDI website]

Ingredients that are or are produced from genetically modied organisms (GMOs) (adopted July 2007)
WHEREAS, the use of genetically modied organisms (GMO)1 as a tool in agriculture is viewed by its proponents as providing the potential to meet basic global food needs and deliver a wide range of health, environmental and economic benets; WHEREAS, concerns have been expressed about the potential impact of agricultural use of GMO on the environment and health, such that the European Union requires labeling of novel foods or foods containing ingredients as no longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient and has proposed additional laws regarding labeling of foods that are derived from GMO crops; WHEREAS, AHPA supports positions that are based on scientic reasoning and also supports positions that favor a sustainable approach to environmental issues and a responsible approach to health issues related to commerce in herbs and herbal products; WHEREAS, AHPA supports consumers right to be informed on issues that affect their purchasing decisions; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT AHPA encourages companies that grow, process, manufacture, market or sell herbal products to refrain from using herbal raw agricultural products that are cultivated with GMO technologies, or extracts and natural avors thereof,2 at least until such time as the above identied concerns have been suitably addressed; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT AHPA supports labeling of consumer goods to identify any ingredients that are herbal raw agricultural products knowingly and intentionally cultivated with GMO technologies, or extracts and natural avors thereof, in a manner that assures that consumers are informed that the ingredient was cultivated with GMO technology; EXCEPT THAT nothing in this policy is meant to comment on research regarding GMO technology; and that nothing in this policy is meant to comment on minimal and/or unintentional mixing of GMO and non-GMO crops; and that this resolution does not create an obligation for any AHPA member. 1) GMO is used here as it is a commonly recognized term that refers to genetically modified materials (also known as genetically engineered). Genetically modified is defined as: Made with techniques that alter the molecular or cell biology of an organism by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes. Genetic modification includes but is not limited to recombinant DNA, cell fusion, micro-and macro-encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing a foreign gene and changing the position of genes. The term as used here does not include breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in-vitro fertilization and tissue culture. FDA has developed a Draft Industry Guidance that includes comments for use of the term GMO (Voluntary Labeling Indicating Whether Foods Have or Have Not Been Developed Using Bioengineering, http://www.fda.gov/food/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/guidancedocuments/foodlabelingnutrition /ucm059098.htm, last accessed on January 20, 2010). 2) This is inclusive of extracts made from GMO herbal raw materials and excipients, fillers, carriers, etc. used to make, or that are present in, extracts. Natural flavor ingredients are those composed of the essential oils, oleoresins or natural extractives of herbs and spices, and various undisclosed excipients, which could include corn or soy-based carriers (e.g. maltodextrin or lecithin).

Known Adulterants (adopted July 1997; revised July 2010)

AHPA recommends that appropriate steps be taken to assure that the raw materials in the following table are free of the noted adulterant. This list identies herbs and potential adulterants that are known at this time to have been encountered in trade. Additional information may be added if further such instances are observed. Marketers of products that contain herbal ingredients are responsible for assuring accurate identication of all ingredients. Contact AHPA for additional information regarding relevant analytical methods or http://www.ahpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=242 follow this link for more information from the AHPA website also found under the Technical Guidance/Scientic Affairs/Adulteration Information menu. Article of Trade 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Eleuthero root (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Plantain leaf (Plantago lanceolata) Skullcap herb (Scutellaria lateriora) Stephania root (Stephania tetrandra)a Asian species of Cocculus, Diploclisia, Menispermum and Sinomenium root Asian species of Akebia and Clematis stem Costus root (Saussurea costusb) Vladimiria souliei root Black cohosh root/rhizome(Actaea racemosac) 9. 1. 2. 3. Adulterant Periploca sepium root Digitalis lanata leaf Germander herb (Teucrium chamaedrys)

4. Aristolochia fangchi root (guang fang ji) 5. Aristolochia fangchi root (guang fang ji)

6. 7. 8. 9.

6. 7.

Aristolochia manshuriensis stem (guan mu tong) Aristolochia debilis root (qing mu xiang) Aristolochia debilis root (qing mu xiang) Chinese cimicifuga root/rhizomed (Actaea spp.) 8.

10. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaf extract standardized to avonol glycosides and terpenes 11. Bilberry fruit extract 12. Hoodia gordonii aerial parts powder

10. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaf extract with added avonol glycosides or aglycones (e.g., rutin, quercetin, etc.) 12. Various powders possibly including Opuntia spp. and other Hoodia species

11. Red dye #2 (amaranth dye)

a. For a complete list of species that FDA has identified as potentially adulterated with Aristolochia spp. see http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-bot2.html b. Synonym = Saussurea lappa c. Synonym = Cimicifuga racemosa d. Also known as sheng ma or Rhizoma Cimicifugae; consists of Actaea cimicifuga, syn. Cimicifuga foetida; Actaea dahurica, syn. C. dahurica; A. heracleifolia, syn. C. heracleifolia; and possibly other Asian species of Actaea.

Disclosure of herb use to healthcare providers (adopted October 2001)

AHPA recommends that consumers of herbal supplements inform their healthcare provider(s) of such use. In the interest of seeing this recommendation broadly accepted by consumers, AHPA encourages healthcare providers to receive such communication with respect for the consumers healthcare choices. In addition, AHPA encourages healthcare providers to seek out accurate and truthful information about herbs.

Product Labeling for St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) (adopted July 2000)
AHPA recommends the following or similar language appear on the label of products containing St. John's wort: Notice: Do not use this product while taking any prescription drug(s) without the advice of your prescribing physician. Avoid excessive exposure to UV irradiation (e.g., sunlight; tanning) when using this product.

Retail Labeling of Dietary Supplements Containing Soft or Powdered Botanical Extracts (adopted July
2000) AHPA recommends the following labeling standards: Standardized statement of quantity. For soft or powdered botanical extracts listed in the Supplement Facts box (as dened by 21 CFR 101.36) the quantity stated shall correspond to the total amount of that extract included in the product (i.e., the quantity shall include carriers and other excipients.1) If they so choose, AHPA members may also disclose the percent of native extract for each extract listed in the Supplement Facts Box.2 Extract ratios. Listing of the extract ratio of a soft or powdered botanical extract is not a mandatory labeling requirement for retail products. There are differing opinions concerning the value of listing extract ratios on the retail label. However, where such ratios are stated, they shall conform to the following convention2: The rst number shall represent the amount of dried botanical starting material, the second number shall represent the amount of nished total extract. For example, a 4:1 extract is one in which each kilogram (or other unit) of nished total extract represents the extractives from four kilograms (or other unit) of dried botanical starting material.3 Where fresh rather than dried starting material is used in determining the ratio, this fact must be disclosed. Statement of manufacturing ranges. For soft or powdered extracts where the percent native extract or the concentration ratio varies from lot to lot of extract, this variation may be expressed on the label in either of the following forms:

 The range. The range of percent of native extract or of concentration ratios described in the extract manufacturer's product specication may be
stated on the retail label. Any range specied by the extract manufacturer must correspond to the actual variability that occurs from batch to batch of extract. Where the percent native extract range or ratio is listed on the label, it shall be stated in the form "xy% native" (e.g., "4050% native") or "xy:1" (e.g., "45:1) The average. The average of the range described in the extract manufacturer's product specication may be stated on the retail label, so long as (a) The range does not vary by more than 20% from the stated average; and (b) The fact that the labeled value represents the average of a range is disclosed on the label. If the range varies by more than 20% from the average, the average may not be stated on the label; rather, the entire range must be disclosed. Where an average value is listed on the label, it shall be in the form "average % native" or "average x:1." Where desired, the word "average" may be abbreviated to "av." or "avg."

1) Carriers and other excipients are required to be listed in the ingredients statement in accordance with 101.4(g). 2) It is not meant to imply that the items discussed (i.e., listing of percent native extract and the extract ratio) are the optimal or proper way to describe the extract on the retail label. 3) Any appropriate unit may be used, so long as the amounts of starting plant material and finished extract are expressed in the same unit of measure. "Guidance for the Retail Labeling of Dietary Supplements Containing Soft or Powdered Botanical Extracts" is also available from the AHPA Bookstore, as part of AHPA's Guidance Documents for the Manufacture and Sale of Botanical Extracts.

Guidance on Residual Solvents in Extracts (adopted October 2010, revised July 2011)
AHPA recommends that herbal extracts marketed in the U.S. limit any contained residual solvents to the levels established by the current International Conference on Harmonizations (ICHs) document, Impurities: Guideline for Residual Solvents, except that this guidance does not apply to the ICH limit of 50 mg per day for the class 3 solvent ethanol when it is present in liquid extracts formulated to contain ethanol, or for the class 3 solvent acetic acid when it is present in liquid extracts formulated to contain acetic acid or vinegar. With regard to this guidance, solvents identied in the cited ICH document as class 1 solvents (benzene;* carbon tetrachloride;* 1,2-dichloroethane;* 1,1-dichloroethene; and 1,1,1-trichloroethane), which are considered by ICH as unacceptably toxic or an environmental hazard, are not appropriate for use, and should not be used, in the manufacture of herbal extracts. With regard to this guidance, solvents identied in the cited ICH document as class 2 solvents, which are considered by ICH to be inherently toxic, are listed in the table below with the ICH recommended upper limits for Permissible Daily Exposures (PDE) and concentration limits given in ppm assuming a 10 gram daily dose.

Class 2 Solvent Acetonitrile Chlorobenzene Chloroform* Cyclohexane 1,2-Dichloroethene Dichloromethane* 1,2-Dimethoxyethane N,N-Dimethylacetamide* N,N-Dimethylformamide 1,4-Dioxane* 2-Ethoxyethanol Ethyleneglycol Formamide Hexane Methanol 2-Methoxyethanol Methylbutyl ketone* Methylcyclohexane N-Methylpyrrolidone* Nitromethane Pyridine* Sulfolane Tetrahydrofuran Tetralin Toluene* 1,1,2-Trichloroethene Xylene

PDE (mg/day) limit (ppm) 4.1 3.6 0.6 38.8 18.7 6.0 1.0 10.9 8.8 3.8 1.6 6.2 2.2 2.9 30.0 0.5 0.5 11.8 5.3 0.5 2.0 1.6 7.2 1.0 8.9 0.8 21.7 410 360 60 3880 1870 600 100 1090 880 380 160 620 220 290 3000 50 50 1180 530 50 200 160 720 100 890 80 2170

With regard to this guidance, solvents identied in the cited ICH document as class 3 solvents, which are considered by ICH as having low toxic potential, should be limited to 50 mg/day, which equates to 5000 ppm or 0.5% in 10 grams. Their use should be limited by good manufacturing practice (GMP) or other quality based requirements. They are identied as the following: Class 3 Solvents Acetic acid Acetone Anisole 1-Butanol 2-Butanol Butyl acetate tert-Butylmethyl ether Cumene* Dimethyl sulfoxide

Ethanol* Ethyl acetate Ethyl ether Ethyl formate Formic acid Heptane Isobutyl acetate Isopropyl acetate Methyl acetate

3-Methyl-1-butanol Methylethyl ketone Methylisobutyl ketone 2-Methyl-1-propanol Pentane 1-Pentanol 1-Propanol 2-Propanol Propyl acetate

This limit does not apply for ethanol when it is present in liquid extracts formulated to contain ethanol or for acetic acid when it is present in liquid extracts formulated to contain acetic acid or vinegar. Adherence to this AHPA guidance does not infer compliance with California Proposition 65. Several of these solvents are listed by the State of California as chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, including, as of the date of the last revision of this guidance, at least those solvents marked with an asterisk (*). The listing of ethanol with regard to California Proposition 65 refers only to its presence in alcoholic beverages.

Guidance on Extract Labeling1 (adopted March 2010)

Any non-liquid herbal extract that discloses a quantitative extraction ratio stated as a ratio of two numbers represents the rst number as the weight of starting plant material and the second number as the weight of the nished extract produced from the starting plant material, and that information on the condition of the starting material should be indicated when it is fresh and may be indicated when it is dried*. *Herbal extracts in liquid form are required by federal regulation, whether or not a concentration ratio is declared, to disclose the condition of the starting material when it is in a fresh state (21 CFR 101.36 (b)(3)(ii)(B)
1See additional information on AHPAs Trade Requirement for extract labeling in AHPAs Code Of Ethics

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