quality assurance

All About GMP (And How It Protects Kratom Consumers Like You)

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Every industry has manufacturing practices that companies in the industry are expected to follow. These practices are in place not only to keep the workers in each company safe but also to ensure that consumers are always receiving a safe and reliable product.

Without standards, there would be no way for consumers to feel confident that they are buying a safe, well-tested product.

Before the GMP program was established by the American Kratom Association, these standards were practically nonexistent across the industry. While individual vendors like us here at Phytoextractum had their own rules about testing and standards, they were not consistent between vendors.

Let’s find out what the GMP program consists of, why it is so important, and how we can continue to ensure that these practices continue to protect consumers and companies in the Kratom industry for decades to come.

What Is The GMP Program?

The GMP Program is a Kratom-specific program that was established by the American Kratom Association as an attempt to coordinate and normalize safe manufacturing practices among various Kratom vendors.

GMP, which stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, is a program that sets up a certain standard, and Kratom vendors have to prove that they are meeting these standards in order to be certified. Then, they must continue to prove that they follow the program’s guidelines each year if they want to continue to be certified by the GMP program for safety compliance.

GMP Program Requirements

The complete guidelines of the program can be found on the American Kratom Association’s website, but these are some of the most important general requirements:

  • ➡ Specific labeling guidelines which may not include certain claims
  • ➡ Safe operating procedures in regards to sick workers
  • ➡ Written procedures in place for all shipping reception and processing
  • ➡ Batch testing and record-keeping
  • ➡ Complete supply chain record-keeping
  • ➡ Restrictions on marketing practices

With guidelines like these, the program helps to support vendors to be as safe as possible when working with Kratom processing, sales, and marketing. It’s part of the responsibility of vendors to upkeep a level of safety for consumers, and this program helps do just that.

Why Is The GMP Program Necessary?

As you may or may not know, Kratom has a somewhat confusing legal status in America. Like most substances, the final call about the legality of Kratom exists at the state-by-state level. While this type of decision making is common, the differences between regulations in each state mean that negligent vendors can sell untested Kratom.

Untested Kratom could be very dangerous for consumers, and consumers getting sick from their Kratom is not OK! Additionally, cases of bad Kratom batches making it to the market weaken the case for Kratom as a safe substance to use. Some in the federal government have already made their skepticism of Kratom known, and problematic cases due to messy testing will only make that worse.

The GMP program accomplishes a few major fixes within the industry:

  • ➡ Sets up testing protocol
  • ➡ Sets up guidelines that are specific to the Kratom industry
  • ➡ Sets up a standard that can be checked and improved as needed
  • ➡ Gives consumers peace of mind when choosing their vendor
  • ➡ Protects consumers from untested product
  • ➡ Educates manufacturers, vendors, and consumers about safe Kratom

All successful industries have a type of manufacturing standards that are expected to be followed, and the GMP program creates those standards for the Kratom industry. Vendors that choose to participate are helping to improve the overall industry.

How GMP Protects Consumers

Before the GMP program existed, some vendors were doing their best to make sure that Kratom was tested properly. Limited knowledge and the lack of a clear procedure path, however, led even well-meaning Kratom vendors to sell questionable products.

Consumers, however, had no way of knowing if the Kratom that they were purchasing could be trusted or not. There was no impartial way to judge the different vendors when shopping around, and that led to stress and safety issues.

With the GMP program in place, it is possible for consumers to look at the list of GMP participants and then decide where they would like to shop.

Additionally, the GMP program helps all Kratom vendors become educated about the best practices for Kratom. Even if consumers know nothing about the program, they are still being protected as vendors work to make sure their products are as safe as possible.

Phytoextractum’s Commitment To GMP

Here at Phytoextractum, we are very committed to the GMP program!

Without it, we feel that the overall Kratom industry would not be nearly as safe as it is today. The structure, direction, and guidelines that it provides to vendors of all sizes make it possible to identify risk factors and eliminate them.

We know that there are dangers associated with untested and low-quality Kratom, and we can see how the GMP program reduces the risks those have for all Kratom consumers. 

That is why we are proud to be compliant, certified members of the GMP program and plan to continue endorsing this program for the foreseeable future.

How To Shop For GMP Compliant Kratom

Are you interested in making sure that you shop for GMP-compliant Kratom in the future? That’s great; we’re glad that you see the importance of putting quality before price.

We’re happy to offer a great variety of well-priced (and well-tested) Kratom here in our shop, but we also know that we might not have everything that you are looking for.

Here is what we recommend doing to ensure that you are shopping from GMP-compliant vendors:

  • ➡ Bookmark this list on the AKA website of GMP certified vendors
  • ➡ Shop around to find a few vendors that you are interested in buying from
  • ➡ Check to see if the vendor is on the list
  • ➡ If they are, shop away!

If you plan to shop locally, you can save this list to your phone and then check the products that are available in-store to choose your next batch of Kratom. Chances are pretty good that your local vendor already vets what they stock, but you can never be too careful.

By taking this simple extra step, you can protect yourself and the Kratom industry. And for that, we thank you!

Where To Safely Buy Kratom (Hint: It’s NOT Amazon!)

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The safety of kratom throughout the last decade has been rapidly improved by an overall improvement in community standards, but that doesn’t mean that the quest to ensure that kratom is safe for consumption in America is over.

Though there are many reputable vendors working hard to only provide their customers with high-quality kratom, there are also vendors who are willing to sell subpar products at a lower price. For kratom users that aren’t aware of this problem, they might be unknowingly using a dangerous product.

Safely buying kratom is incredibly important. To make sure that you are safely stocking up on kratom, follow this guide (and avoid Amazon!).

Why You Should Avoid Amazon

Buying from a third-party seller such as Amazon is tempting in a number of industries, and some people might be tempted to try to buy their kratom there as well. After all, it just makes sense to order all of your things from one place to simplify the shipping process, right?

Ordering from one seller for many items certainly streamlines the process, but that doesn’t always mean that you are going to be making a good choice by doing this. Let’s talk about why you might not want to order kratom on Amazon.

Safety Concerns

The primary concern when buying from a selling platform when it comes to kratom is safety. Kratom is a safe product when it is manufactured and sold honestly, but it can be hard to know if that is the case when buying from a large platform like Amazon. While the individual seller may be trying to be an honest seller, confirming that is not always easy.

Shipping Concerns

Even if manufacturing conditions are ideal, does the vendor know what happens to their products after they leave their warehouse and are in control of the third-party platform? The shipping and handling aspects when ordering through these services is often taken out of the seller’s hands, and that means that there is not as much clear regulation or direction.

In the case of kratom, it is very important that the product is handled properly from start to finish. Kratom-specific vendors know what works best and will prioritize it, but that cannot be said about other sellers.

Additionally, customer service issues that come up with shipping may be better handled by individual sellers rather than large conglomerations.

Unknown Vendors

Do you recognize the vendor? Can you find information about them? Do they share their sources and how they ensure product safety? While there is an approval process for Amazon vendors, it is not always strict enough to work for a product like kratom.

Liability Limitations

This is arguably the biggest reason not to order form Amazon. No listings on Amazon directly state the word kratom because they have some liability agreements in place that do not allow vendors to sell products like kratom on the platform.

That means that any vendor selling kratom on Amazon is technically doing so illegally, so you should not buy the products from the site at this time.

Even if a company that you think that you want to try sells its products on a third-party platform, it is often better to buy kratom directly from the source as most vendors have a better profit margin when they sell their own products. If you want to support the industry, buying direct is therefore more powerful.

Where To Safely Buy Kratom

If you want to find a better option of where to buy kratom, there are luckily many other fantastic options today. The kratom industry gets stronger each year, and there are more and more brands that can be relied upon to stock up on good products.

Our company, Phytoextractum, continually dedicates time and resources to ensure that we are compliant with the latest best practices. We are part of the GMP-compliance program, which essentially means that we are doing all that we can to ensure our product is handled safely from start to finish.

Of course, we aren’t the only company that is doing our part to ensure the safety and future of the industry!

How To Vet Your Kratom Suppliers

When shopping for a high-quality kratom vendor, look for the following:

  • See if the company is part of the GMP compliance program run by the American Kratom Association
  • Look up their supply chain
  • Ask them questions about their testing procedures
  • See if they have any educational resources
  • Check reviews

By doing a little bit of research before you purchase kratom, you’ll be empowering yourself to ensure you only receive the highest quality kratom.

Why Kratom Safety Matters

Those that are new to buying kratom might not be sure why kratom safety matters so much, and they might instead look to find the cheapest product available. Unfortunately, not all kratom that is available online today should be considered pure.

As with any product, kratom needs to be properly tested, stored, handled, and shipped to be safe for use. If the vendors or suppliers do not do their part, the product can become cross-contaminated and unsafe.

Many industries have federal or state regulations that ensure proper safety procedures are followed. Because of the constantly changing legal status of kratom, however, such protections are not always in place. Some states have adopted Kratom Consumer Protection Acts, which prioritize kratom safety, but these are not yet a universal measure.

For that reason, kratom consumers need to be careful about who they buy from and ensure that they are doing what they can to buy from vendors that care about safety. The future of the kratom industry depends on this.

Stay Safe With Phytoextractum

As mentioned, we know just how important it is for kratom to be safely handled for the sake of the kratom industry, our business, and of course, our customers. That is why not only make sure that we properly test our products, but we also support the actions being taken on a national scale by the American Kratom Association to protect consumers.

If you ever have any questions or concerns about kratom and how it is being sold by our company, please feel free to reach out at any time.

State-by-State: Kratom Consumer Protection 2020 Predictions

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2019 was a year of many changes in the way that kratom is classified, treated, and regulated in America. Through the efforts of advocacy agencies like the American Kratom Association and their supporters, four states passed Kratom Consumer Protection Acts, which protect consumers in those regions.

In 2020, they want to do even more.

By the end of the year, the American Kratom Association hopes to have protection acts passed in 25 states, meaning that 21 states would need to pass acts this year to accomplish the goal.

Is it possible? What states are being targeted? Find out all of this, and more, in today’s looks at what AKA will be focusing on for the coming year.

What Is The KCPA?

The kratom industry does not have a lot of regulation, control, or guidelines. Most industries have a set of good manufacturing practices that all reliable vendors and producers follow. The kratom industry did not have any such practices until recently.

Now, the American Kratom Association, AKA, runs the Good Compliance Standards Program. This voluntary program helps to ensure that:

  • vendors are properly testing their products
  • labeling their items
  • ensuring that their products are as safe and high-quality as possible

With the KCPA, the American Kratom Association hopes to continue beyond that voluntary program to set up some official, state-backed guidelines.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act is a sample set of guidelines and rules that were created as an example for state governments. Each state that AKA works with can adapt these guidelines to suit their state, but the general outline of what it should include is as follows:

  • Defines kratom
  • Registers products and vendors operating in the state
  • Restricts and requires specific labeling practices
  • Requires testing to reduce adulterated or contaminated product presence
  • Sets up a state regulatory system

There are many different things that could be added to this as well. Ultimately, it is up to the legislators and lawmakers in each state to determine what they believe will be most effective in their state.

Amount & Synthetic Restrictions

Ideally, the KCPA legislation will also touch on the amount and types of alkaloids that can be in a kratom product.

As you might know, kratom’s benefits come from the alkaloids found in the plant. Alkaloids can, however, be created synthetically.

The KCPA suggests banning synthetic alkaloids and also putting a limit on the total amount of 7-OH that can be in the product. 7-OH, aka 7-hydroxymitragynine, is a metabolite of the primary alkaloids found in kratom.

States Where KCPA Exists

The AKA has already been working with states to implement the KCPA for some time now. Through their efforts, some form of this protection act exists in:

Each of these states created their own version of the act, but the major components that will help to ensure that Americans can find safe, properly vetted kratom sources are underway in those areas.

States Where Kratom is Banned

Despite the best efforts of kratom advocacy groups, there are a few states where kratom bans have been passed.

Kratom is currently banned in these states:

  • Indiana
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Rhode Island

Though these outright bans are very real, AKA is planning to target four of these states during the 2020 goal stretch to reach 25 states with KCPA laws. The advocacy group believes that the bans in these areas are, at best, shaky with a lot of dissension. With some effort, the bans can be reversed.

Unfortunately, both Wisconsin and Arkansas do not have legislative sessions this year, but AKA plans to work with legislators and get things ready to be implemented in early 2021, if possible.

In Rhode Island, AKA has already had the opportunity to meet with a number of officials and scientists, so the process of attempting to overturn the kratom ban is already underway.

2020 Target States

These are the states that AKA will be targeting in 2020:

  • Tennessee
  • Mississippi
  • Florida
  • South Carolina
  • North Carolina
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Oregon
  • Idaho
  • New York
  • Rhode Island
  • Wisconsin
  • Colorado
  • Kansas
  • Oklahoma
  • Missouri
  • Louisiana
  • Illinois
  • Michigan
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas

These states are the states where the AKA has already been working to lay the groundwork for the Kratom Consumer Protection Act to be implemented. The organization also took into account the amount of funding that they currently have available to put into the project.

The situation for all of these states is different, so AKA is handling a lot of moving parts. In some states, lobbyists are already working hard. In other states, funding and lobbyist efforts are needed to move forward with the goal.

Ultimately, it’s hard to say for certain if this goal will be completely achievable or not. When it comes to politics, a number of other issues could stand in the way and prevent a law from being passed until next year, but we firmly believe that a lot of progress in a positive direction will be made.

Want To Get Involved?

If you have any interest in getting involved in the advocacy efforts at your state or local level, you can do that! Ask around at your local kratom shop if there are any such groups working in the area or contact the AKA to find out where you could step in to lend a helping hand.

If you aren’t ready to get involved in a group but still want to support the efforts that are being made, you can do a few simple things:

  • Share your kratom stories on AKA’s website
  • Buy from vendors that support the GMP compliance program run by AKA
  • Send an email to your local or state officials letting them know of your opinion on any kratom-related legislation proposals

If we are to succeed in passing KCPA in all of these states in 2020, help is going to be necessary! Share your story; share your passion. With your help, the kratom industry can become safer than ever before.

Phytoextractum is an AKA GMP Qualified Kratom Vendor

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Phytoextractum is proud to be an American Kratom Association Good Manufacturing Practices Qualified Kratom Vendor. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to compliance, cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices), and our customers. Here are a just a few of the recent improvements we’ve implemented:

• Environmental controls to test for pathogens in the facility
• Revamped sanitation controls policies and procedures
• More rigorous screening process for suppliers and products
• Milling and blending process to allow for more accurate testing
• More comprehensive testing protocols
• The use of two or more labs in testing our product

We have always employed extremely stringent receiving, testing, and quarantine procedures to ensure the safety and purity of our products. Within the last few months, we’ve enhanced these processes so we can be sure that we identify any potential contamination or adulteration. We’ve moved our testing to new labs (with a secondary lab acting as a failsafe), and we’re sharing our educational resources with suppliers as well as other vendors. Our company is taking all measures necessary not only to guarantee the safety of our customers, but also to protect our industry as a whole.  

Phytoextractum only offers Kratom Tea products for sale that are tested for identification, heavy metals content ([AOAC 2013.06] Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury) and for microbial safety (Aerobic Plate Count [AOAC 990.12], Yeast and Mold [AOAC 997.02], Coliforms and E Coli [AOAC 991.4], and Salmonella [AOAC-RI 050701]), and only products which pass these tests will be available to order.

We hope all kratom companies will take seriously their responsibility to prevent unsafe products from entering the market, and we urge consumers to conduct due diligence when choosing a kratom vendor. Don’t be afraid to ask important questions about their manufacturing practices and testing, or to request Certificates of Analysis from accredited laboratories. Reputable vendors will have no problem answering these queries and should be able to provide you with information about their products and processes.

American Kratom Association Phytoextractum

The health and safety of kratom consumers is important to us. It’s why we aim to be compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices and why we’ve recently undergone a third party audit of our facility and processes. The Phytoextractum team is steadfast in our commitment to providing safe and effective products for our customers and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you!