Every manufacturer of dietary supplements has to comply with the current Good Manufacturing Practices 21 CFR 111, for the manufacturing, packaging, labelling and holding operations for the supplements. Under the Food and Drug Administration’s rules, any manufacturer who makes dietary supplements and sells them in the US will be breaking the law if they do not comply with the GMP standards, and therefore GMP training is necessary. If employees are not given GMP training, the supplements which they help to make will be ineligible for sale on the US market.

Staff training can take many forms. You can set your staff reading and research so that they know about GMP regulations and then test them through written and physical examinations. Training seminars could be held by a member of staff whose job it is to stay on top of GMP compliance; they can give one to one and group lectures and demonstrations of how processes have to follow the correct procedure. But it has to be said that GMP consulting firms are by far the best way you can give your staff GMP training.

Pharmaceutical consulting and training firms rely on their expertise and ability to transfer knowledge so that they are paid. They keep up to date with news regarding GMP, FDA and dietary supplements. They are also able to advise companies on processes that can reduce their costs whilst maintain compliance with GMP. With this expertise they are best equipped to provide GMP training.

In-house GMP training can be done when it is important that each employee knows how their role affects the outcome of compliance. Members of staff are better able to see how their role can affect the quality and legality of the dietary supplements they make.

Off-premises training however is also available and this can be a way for employers to save money when it comes to GMP training. If you hire a consultant to come into your workplace, they will charge you a high amount of money for their expenses and their one-to-one advice. You will also be paying a full time wage if you pay one of your employees to solely look out for GMP regulation processes. If you choose to send a handful of delegates to an external seminar, you are paying less that you would with the first two options. They can learn everything that is needed about GMP regulations and then train your other staff once the seminar has finished. The same expert advice is given but you split the cost with other companies who are also attending the seminar.