Highlights

See a list of USP-Verified dietary supplements.

Resources

Get free USP information brochures on choosing dietary supplements.

Contact Information

Questions on USP-verified dietary supplements? Email or call +1-301-816-8273.

USP and Consumers

USP's products and activities ultimately help to assure quality medicines and dietary supplements as well as safe and effective healthcare for consumers and patients everywhere.

Medicines

Federal law requires prescription and nonprescription medicines sold in the U.S. to meet USP standards, if such standards are available. Manufacturers independently ensure that their products conform to USP standards, where applicable. When medicines meet USP standards, it means that they are pure, consistent in ingredients and strength, and properly labeled and stored.

USP does not approve a drug for release in the market (the FDA approves drugs based on manufacturers' own standards). USP sets public standards for products already approved by the FDA. Once USP standards become official, manufacturers must comply with them and the FDA can enforce the standards.

Dietary Supplements

In addition to setting federally recognized standards for dietary supplements, USP conducts a verification program for dietary supplements. Supplement manufacturers may choose to participate in this program and submit selected products for USP's testing and verification processes. These processes could result in USP awarding the USP-verified mark for use on the supplement label. Learn what the mark assures consumers of and where you can find it.

Patient Safety

USP's patient safety initiatives foster safe environments for patient care in hospitals and healthcare systems. USP operates programs to allow healthcare professionals to report errors and adverse drug reactions in order to prevent their recurrence. Such programs help to build systems in which patients can be confident of getting the right dose of the right drug at the right time and through the right channel.

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

Under a Congressional mandate, USP has developed-and will continuously update-a drug classification system for the Medicare prescription drug benefit program. This classification system provides a framework that pharmaceutical benefit managers and prescription drug plan sponsors can use in determining medicines approved for coverage under Medicare.