The DSVP program is run by the United States Pharmacopoeia, or, USP. While any product manufacturer can places the USP symbol on their product if they determine that their products meet USP standards, only products which have been verified directly and independently by USP can place the DSVP seal on their vitamins and supplements. DSVP is the ultimate symbol that the product you are consuming has been verified through each step of its manufacturing and into the bottle you`ve purchased. The USP Manufacturing Practices are patterned after those the FDA uses for verification of pharmaceutical products.
Q: I`ve seen the letters `USP` on supplement bottles before, what`s thedifference between a product with the letters `USP` and one that has the `DSVP` mark?
A: The letters `USP` on the label were placed there by the manufacturer to indicate that the product or ingredient meets USP standards. This is a good first step, but USP letters alone do not mean that USP has conducted any independent testing to verify the accuracy of the manufacturer???s claim.
A `DSVP` mark or symbol on a supplement???s front label indicates that USP has indeed conducted independent testing on the product itself and on the manufacturing process. Some of the tests we perform include an on-site manufacturing facility inspection, verification that the product was made in accordance with the USP standards and that it contains the ingredients listed on the label, among other rigorous requirements.
Q: Why does a DSVP mark matter?
A: The mark helps assure consumers that certain standards were met in the development of the product. These standards include good manufacturing practices, testing for pesticides and contaminants, and product dissolution and disintegration. If a product dissolves or disintegrates too rapidly or too slowly, it may interfere with the body???s absorption of the product.
Q: What does the mark signify?
A: The DSVP mark confirms that USP has tested and verified ingredients, product and manufacturing process of the dietary supplement.
Q: What makes USP an authority?
A: USP has been setting U.S. standards for drug products since 1820. We set standards not only for prescription medicines such as penicillin, but also for dietary supplements and over-the-counter products like aspirin tablets and sunscreen, for example.