Quality Processes - NOW® Foods Greece

JMN - Join Molecular Nutrition
JMN Pharmaceutical SA is a Greek company operating in the field of dietary supplements and, more broadly, in the healthcare and wellness sector. Its main activities focus on the development, commercial promotion, and distribution of pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products, as well as products for special dietary needs.

JMN Pharmaceutical SA was established in 2008 in Ioannina, Greece. The company's rapid growth led to its expansion into the Industrial Area of Ioannina (B.I.PE.), where its warehouses, covering a total area of 1,200 sq. m., were located until the end of 2016. Subsequently, the warehouses were relocated to Mandra, Attica, where they remain today. The company's accounting department and order processing department remain located in the center of Ioannina.

In 2008, the company's sales department, based in Athens, was added to its operations. The department is responsible for promoting the company's products through both retail and wholesale channels, in Greece and abroad. In 2014, the Research and Development (R&D) Department was established, with the aim of developing and producing products featuring high-quality and innovative characteristics.

Today, JMN Pharmaceutical SA operates both in the Greek and international markets.

Activities

The activities of JMN Pharmaceutical SA in Greece include the import, export, distribution, and trading of pharmaceutical preparations, organically produced products, and dietary supplements. The company holds the exclusive rights for the marketing and distribution of NOW^® Health Group products in Greece and Cyprus.

According to SPINS^ΤΜ, NOW^® Health Group is one of the leading companies worldwide in the dietary supplements sector. It is an American company engaged in the production of natural products, including dietary supplements, natural foods, sports nutrition products, herbal extracts, essential oils, natural sweeteners, dermocosmetics, and other products. At the same time, the company places particular emphasis on social and environmental responsibility.

In addition to being the exclusive representative of NOW^® Health Group products, JMN Pharmaceutical SA also offers a range of products under its own brand name, NATURA VITA, featuring innovative formulas developed by the company's Research and Development (R&D) Department. These products are marketed both in the Greek market and in international markets, including Italy, among others.

Indicatively, the NATURA VITA product range includes:
- NATURA VITA Dietary Supplements
- NATURA VITA Protein Foods
- NATURA VITA Healthy Foods
Services - Facilities

JMN Pharmaceutical SA remains committed to the values it established from the very beginning of its operations. The services it provides include ensuring the high quality of its products and their effectiveness for consumers who need them.

Detailed product inspections and the determination of scientifically substantiated expiry dates constitute an integral part of the company's operations, contributing to the maintenance of product quality throughout the storage period. The facilities housing the company's warehouses comply with strict storage standards for food and dietary supplements.

JMN Pharmaceutical SA has obtained a quality management system certification in accordance with the ISO 9001 standard, while the certification is reassessed on an annual basis in accordance with the requirements of the applicable ISO 9001 standard.

Objectives

The objectives of JMN Pharmaceutical SA include promoting innovation and establishing cooperation agreements with new companies of high scientific standing. At the same time, a key priority is the continuous renewal of its product portfolio through the development and distribution of modern and innovative products.

In an international economic environment characterized by continuously changing consumer preferences, demand for products that have undergone the necessary quality controls is showing a steady upward trend. Consumers increasingly place particular importance on:
- the quality and reliability of products,
- the variety and innovation of available products, and
- the ease of distributing products between countries.
Despite the economic challenges faced by the Greek market, JMN Pharmaceutical SA continues to expand its product portfolio, aiming to meet the needs of even the most demanding consumers while maintaining its commitment to quality and the consistency that characterize its operations.

Values

One of the fundamental principles of JMN Pharmaceutical SA is consistency and reliability towards its customers and partners. Therefore, the company is committed to ensuring:
- continuous scientific and technological progress,
- the maintenance of high quality standards,
- the development of excellent relationships with both customers and partners, and
- the creation of an excellent and supportive working environment for its employees.
Corporate Social Responsibility

JMN Pharmaceutical SA is a company that meets the necessary standards to be regarded as an example of corporate social responsibility. Financial transparency, compliance with national and international accounting standards, as well as initiatives undertaken by the Sales Department, constitute key elements for adherence to good business practices and compliance with the applicable code of ethics. It is also worth noting that the company's practices and initiatives significantly exceed the minimum requirements established by the legislative framework at both national and international levels.

Good Manufacturing Practices

Natural Products Association Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)

In 2000 the Natural Products Association (then known as the Natural Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) initiated a new quality certification program called the NNFA GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices). This voluntary certification program created standardized manufacturing and quality control practices for companies who agreed to undergo comprehensive audits of their manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance processes and procedures. NOW was one of the first manufacturers to seek GMP certification and was awarded an ‘A’ rating by the NPA after an intense audit process. Since 2000 NOW has undergone annual re-certification and has consistently maintained an ‘A’ rating. The NPA GMP certification process includes:

A comprehensive third-party audit of our facilities that follows the manufacturing process from start to finish, including raw material receiving and testing, production, quality control and assurance, finished product testing, warehousing, storage, documentation and more.
Detailed review of quality control and assurance testing methods for raw materials and finished goods including identity, purity, potency, composition and adulterant testing.
Compliance with sanitation, processing, documentation and testing requirements.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)

In June of 2010 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began enforcing federal standardized manufacturing procedures, known as current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMPs. These standards assure the proper design, monitoring and control of manufacturing processes and facilities. They also establish minimum requirements for sanitation, record-keeping, package and label content and more. Manufacturers are audited by FDA inspectors to ensure compliance and corrective and preventive action is required for any issues found during the inspection process. At NOW Foods we’re inspected regularly by the FDA and continue to receive only a few minor observations. In fact, our FDA inspection in January 2012 resulted in zero observations (cGMP violations).

Non-GMO Project Inspection

2013 marked NOW’s first inspection by The Non-GMO Project. A third party inspector audited our facility for compliance with Non-GMO Project requirements including cleanliness, non-GMO integrity, and systems. NOW continues to support non-GMO ingredients and products and we’re taking the necessary steps to have our entire food line non-GMO verified by the end of 2013.

Quality Assurance International (QAI) Organic Certification

One of the leading United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-accredited organic product certifying agencies in the United States, Quality Assurance International (QAI) is “committed to ensuring organic integrity at every link in the organic production chain.” From farm to retail shelf, QAI verifies organic product integrity at every step and their expertise applies to crop production, food manufacturing, distribution, retail, foodservice, personal care products, dietary supplements and more. NOW Foods is a QAI-certified organic manufacturer. We’re audited annually for compliance with the National Organic Program (NOP).

Cleanliness, Hygiene and Sanitation

NPA GMPs and FDA cGMPs require manufacturers to adhere to stringent minimum levels of cleanliness and sanitation. NOW goes to great lengths to ensure the cleanliness of our facilities and equipment. We perform environmental testing to ensure proper air quality and to control cross contamination. Equipment is swabbed to check for contaminants and to ensure cleanliness. We perform a highly specialized ATP (adenosine triphosphate) sampler test that allows us to screen for allergens and microbes. Rooms that house manufacturing equipment are designed to control cross contamination and are specially built to allow for comprehensive cleaning, including ceilings, walls and floors. Hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation are taken into account throughout every step of the manufacturing process.

Labeling Accuracy & Transparency

As part of NPA GMPs and FDA cGMPs, manufacturers are also required to meet certain standards regarding the accuracy and transparency of dietary supplement packages and labels. NOW has been an industry champion for truth in labeling for decades. NOW’s founder Elwood Richard and his brother Lou were instrumental in the creation of the NPA’s Tru-Label Program, an “internal oversight program…designed to create a high level of confidence with retailers and consumers that products sold in the marketplace are accurately labeled; to establish an ongoing self-regulatory process within the industry; to demonstrate industry maturity to legislators; and to provide a comprehensive industry product database.” NOW Foods participates in the Tru-Label Program and submits to random product testing to ensure compliance. Today we provide assurance through sampling and product testing that what’s on the label is in the bottle. NOW® dietary supplement labels are designed in-house to provide a wealth of essential information for retailers and consumers. Our labels include complete supplement facts, key ingredient potencies, additional ingredients, allergen information, suggested usage, qualified health claims, appropriate structure/function claims, cautions, storage conditions and other related additional information.

NOW’s labels are designed to help the consumer quickly determine what the product is for and whether it addresses their own nutritional needs. The front panel (or principal display panel) highlights the main product category and bulleted structure/ function claims to help the consumer quickly identify if a product meets their personal needs. Retailers and consumers alike can trust, based on our sampling and testing program, that what’s listed on a NOW® dietary supplement label is exactly what they’ll find in the bottle.

Testing from Start to Finish

At NOW, ingredient and finished product testing is the backbone of our Quality Control and Quality Assurance programs. The investments we’ve made in laboratories, instrumentation and technical employees help us to ensure key elements of dietary supplement quality, including identity, purity, potency and composition. NOW tests our ingredients and finished products, meeting and exceeding cGMP testing standards. In a single month of production this can entail more than 16,000 individual tests.

We request pre-shipment samples from our suppliers for testing. Once a raw material is approved and arrives at one of our facilities we sample the lot and perform a series of tests. Retains are stored for future reference and test results are recorded in compliance with NPA GMPs and FDA cGMPs. In-process ingredient testing is performed during production and once the finished product is produced, we perform an additional battery of tests before the product lot is released into inventory. NOW is committed to comprehensive, industry-leading ingredient and finished product testing.

JMN - Join Molecular Nutrition