[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 101 (Thursday, July 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         LEINER HEALTH PRODUCTS

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                       HON. WALTER R. TUCKER III

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 1994

  Mr. TUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. [USP] and Leiner Health 
Products. The congressionally mandated USP has spent 2 years developing 
voluntary standards for vitamins and minerals to give consumers the 
ability to identify products that have been produced to exacting 
standards. Leiner Health Products has become the first and to date, the 
only company to produce products to meet these pharmaceutical-level 
standards.
  The USP is a nongovernmental, voluntary organization that has been 
setting standards to ensure the integrity and uniform quality of drug 
products since 1820. Recognizing the growing importance of nutrition 
and supplements to the Nation's health, USP began 2 years ago to 
develop the first quality standards ever established for vitamins.
  USP is to be commended for this move to protect the consumer and 
Leiner Health Products should receive particular recognition for 
becoming the first company to bring these standards to the marketplace. 
There have been debates in this chamber about labeling requirement for 
nutritional supplements, but there can be no argument about the need 
for consumers to be assured that the products in the package are 
manufactured to the highest standards of purity, potency, 
disintegration, and dissolution. The USP standards mean that consumers 
can be sure that the formulation is precise and that product 
performance and quality will be at the levels usually reserved for 
pharmaceutical products.
  This did not come without a commitment. Leiner recently invested $40 
million in upgrading its facilities in Garden Grove, CA, and is opening 
a new facility in Carson, CA which will eventually provide some 700 new 
jobs. Leiner Health Products plans to invest another $10 million in its 
quality control laboratories to meet the new standards.

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