USP is an independent scientific organization that collaborates with the world's top experts in health and science to develop quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. Through our standards, advocacy and education, USP helps increase the availability of quality medicines, supplements and food for billions of people worldwide.
USP standards
USP offers documentary standards (written monographs that describe specifications and tests for identity, strength, quality, and purity) and Reference Standards (highly characterized substances intended for use in conducting the quality control tests and analytical procedures associated with documentary standards). The United States Pharmacopeia--National Formulary (USP-NF) is an official compendium of the United States for drugs and dietary supplements. The USP Catalog features more than 3,600 items, including more than 800 dietary supplement-related monographs and approximately 300 Reference Standards for dietary supplements (e.g., amino acids, botanicals, vitamins and minerals, and fish oils).
Independent verification services
In addition to its standards-setting work, USP offers the industry voluntary, independent, third-party verification services for dietary supplement finished products and dietary ingredients. The USP Verified Mark is earned by dietary supplement products that meet the stringent criteria of its Dietary Supplement Verification Program. USP also has a GMP Facility Audit Program for dietary supplement and dietary ingredient manufacturers. The program helps ensure that manufacturers have good quality systems and may also help mitigate regulatory risks by preparing manufacturers for GMP inspection.