The American Kratom Association (AKA) published its “Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Standards for the Manufacture of Kratom Products” to provide specific guidance to kratom manufacturers and vendors in the manufacturing and marketing of kratom products.

Dave Herman, Chairman of the AKA, affirmed the commitment of the AKA to establish a supply chain of safe kratom products. “The most important goal we have is to protect consumers,” Herman commented.  “We will maintain a public database of manufacturers and vendors who agree to comply with these standards so consumers can have a higher level of confidence that the products they purchase are from sources who are committed to safe kratom products.”

The AKA has released a number of reports in the last few weeks that highlight the fact that adverse events and deaths the FDA claims are “associated” with kratom are actually the result of polydrug use; underlying medical conditions; the use of contraindicated prescription drugs; and adulterated kratom products.

“While the number of adverse events and deaths related to adulterated kratom products may be relatively small in the overall number reported by the FDA, even one death from an adulterated kratom product is too many,” Herman emphasized.  “We want consumers to have access to a list of manufacturers and vendors who have agreed to adhere to FDA good manufacturing standards, and to a higher set of standards AKA is requesting to protect those consumers.”

The new AKA GMP Standards will require manufacturers and vendors to certify compliance, and to submit to an independent 3rd party audit to verify compliance.  Qualified vendors will then be added to the list of AKA vendors that will be available to kratom consumers.

“Our goal is to work with the FDA to eradicate the unscrupulous bad actors who put dangerous adulterants in the natural plant kratom, and give kratom consumers the opportunity to purchase products from vendors committed to that goal,” Herman concluded.

Any kratom vendor interested in participating in this program, should contact Sherry Chlebowski at[email protected].