As kratom grows in popularity across the U.S., so does the need for transparency and safety in how it’s produced, handled, and delivered. Consumers are becoming more discerning, and rightfully so. In an industry that still lacks full regulatory oversight, the burden of ensuring product safety often falls on the shoulders of responsible vendors.
The GMP program ensures that certain basic quality standards are complied with and audited by an independent third party annually. By purchasing from a qualified seller, customers can have an increased sense of confidence and assurance that the product they are buying is safe and of good quality.
The American Kratom Association (AKA) introduced the cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) Standards Program to elevate the industry’s quality benchmarks. This voluntary certification program serves as a roadmap for vendors to adopt consistent, hygienic, and traceable manufacturing practices.
While not all vendors are certified under the program, the existence of these guidelines helps move the kratom industry closer to legitimacy and customer trust.
Participating vendors are subject to third-party audits to ensure:
It’s a monumental step forward for consumer protection in a largely un-regulated or rather self-regulated market.
In an unregulated space, safety gaps can lead to serious consequences — including contamination with heavy metals, bacteria, or worse, the adulteration of kratom with dangerous substances like fentanyl. With GMP guidelines, the goal is to protect consumers
Ultimately, GMP adherence is about creating safe product.
While the AKA’s cGMP program offers a strong foundation for industry quality and safety, it’s not without its challenges — especially for small and growing vendors. Becoming officially certified requires a significant investment in time, staff training, and infrastructure upgrades. Third-party audits and compliance processes can be costly and operationally demanding.
Moreover, while the program is respected within the kratom community, many consumers still don’t recognize or fully understand what the certification entails. As a result, the return on investment might not be immediate for brands that already uphold high internal standards.
For vendors like Mount Kratom, this means making a strategic choice: continuing to uphold GMP-level quality practices while remaining independent of the formal certification process — for now.
Several U.S. states have passed or proposed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) to regulate kratom at the state level. This legislation often aligns with GMP principles and includes:
Mandatory labeling with strain names, ingredient lists, and alkaloid content
Prohibition of synthetic additives and adulterants
Age restrictions (usually 18 or 21+)
Registration and licensing requirements for vendors
To comply with the KCPA, vendors must maintain clear production records, label their products responsibly, and follow safe packaging protocols. It’s not just about legality — it’s about accountability.
While we are not a certified participant in the AKA’s cGMP program, we take our responsibility to customers seriously and align with most if not all of the same best practices.
Here’s how we put these principles into action:
Our production takes place in a large facility with modern cleanroom designed for food-grade handling
We maintain full product traceability from origin to shipment
Every batch undergoes third-party lab testing for purity and potency. A batch does not exceed 500kg to keep the margin of error low.
Equipment is cleaned and maintained regularly to prevent contamination
Products are packaged in compliance with safe handling standards
We’re not here for shortcuts — we’re here to build long-term trust with our customers.
The adoption of GMP standards in the kratom industry represents a necessary evolution. Whether it’s through voluntary programs like the AKA’s cGMP initiative or compliance with state-level regulations like the KCPA, one thing is clear: quality matters.
At Mount Kratom, we’re proud to uphold many of these standards — even if we don’t carry the official stamp just yet. Because when it comes to your well-being, we believe every vendor should go the extra mile.
To explore our lab-tested, high-quality products, browse our shop and see the Mount Kratom difference for yourself.
