heart-check food certification program application packet

• FDA/USDA product subcategory code (see “Individual Food
Category List” on page 18)
• Grocery store primary location
• Whether the product is a supplement, meal replacement or weight
loss product (these types of products are not certifiable)
6. Fill out the nutritional form, which is formatted as a standard
Nutrition Facts panel. Additional information may be required based on certification you have
requested.
7. Upload one or more
PDFs of your packaging mockups that display the
Nutrition Facts panel and appropriate placement of
the Heart-Check mark and FDA health claim
language. (See “Packaging and Promotional
Guidelines” on page 35 for details.)
After you fully complete the product application process, the
product will no longer appear in your Product(s) in Progress page.
The review process requires four weeks, although additional time
may be needed if your product must undergo lab testing. You will
be notified if lab testing is required.
If your product is approved for certification, you will receive email
notification. You will also be assigned an Account Manager. If your
product fails to pass certification, Heart-Check program staff will contact you to discuss why your product did not
comply with certification criteria and what the next steps are.
A product is not considered legally certified unless/until the Product Schedule is fully executed (signed by both
parties). The Product Schedule is an addendum to the CMLA or CMPLA and enumerates i) the product(s) being
certified, ii) the term of certification, and iii) additional requirements/restrictions, if needed.
After the Product Schedule is fully executed and you receive final packaging approval from Heart-Check program
staff, you can actively use the Heart-Check mark for one year (12 consecutive months). We also encourage you
to use the mark in your promotional materials. See “Packaging and Promotional Guidelines” on page 35 for
details.
Renewal Process
Certification of your product is renewed annually through the
Heart-Check product application and renewal portal at
certification.heartcheckmark.org. Sixty days in advance of
your product’s expiration date, you receive an automated
email reminder. At that time, your product appears on the
Product(s) in Progress page. You must update any
information that has changed and pay the annual product
certification fee.
If you do not renew your product’s certification by the expiration date, you will receive an expiration letter outlining
the conditions of your failure to renew. If you choose not to renew certification, please consult the CMLA or
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© Copyright 2012 American Heart Association Heart-Check Food Certification Program, Rev. 1/2012