NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – March 12, 2002 – Pharmavite Corp., makers of Nature Made® vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements, will become the first participant of United States Pharmacopeia’s (USP) Dietary Supplement Verification Program (DSVP). Designed to build consumer confidence in dietary supplements, DSVP helps assure a product’s quality, purity and composition through a rigorous inspection process. Rockville, Md.-based USP has set standards for prescription drugs, dietary supplements and other healthcare products for more than 180 years.

“We’re pleased to be a part of USP’s effort to set high standards for our industry,” said Tom Zimmerman, Pharmavite vice president of business development. “Nature Made Vitamin E was evaluated in USP’s rigorous pilot certification program and passed. We have committed to the USP DSVP on a broad assortment of additional Nature Made products and we look forward to being the first brand in the marketplace with the official USP verification mark.”

“For more than 30 years, Pharmavite has been a leading manufacturer of dietary supplements, and we welcome them in this invaluable program,” said John Fowler, USP chief operating officer. “We believe the DSVP mark will help safeguard consumers who use dietary supplements.”

The DSVP verification mark will appear on product labels once the certification process is complete. During certification, USP analyzes both the product and the manufacturing facility for the quality and integrity of its ingredients, and will ensure continued compliance with DSVP standards by conducting random tests after the mark has been granted.

The DSVP is also designed to complement the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulation of dietary supplements under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). FDA has not yet finalized Good Manufacturing Practices for the industry.

Once a Nature Made product meets the DSVP's criteria, that product will be granted use of the DSVP verification mark for display on the product’s front label. Pharmavite anticipates Nature Made products featuring the DSVP verification mark will be at retail shelves in the fourth quarter of 2002.

About USP—The Standard of Quality

USP is a non-government organization that promotes the public health by establishing state-of-the-art standards to ensure the quality of medicines and other health care technologies. These standards are developed by a unique process of public involvement and are recognized worldwide. USP has six additional public health programs focusing on promoting optimal health care, including the Dietary Supplement Verification Program, Pharmacopoeia Education, Health Care Information, Patient Safety, Veterinary Care, and the Public Policy Center. USP is a not-for-profit organization that achieves its goals through the contributions of volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other health care professions, as well as science, academia, government, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer organizations. For information, visit www.usp.org/e-newsroom.