If you have shopped for kratom online, you have probably seen the letters AKA on a product page, a vendor badge, or a news story about a new state law. The American Kratom Association shows up everywhere in this industry, but most buyers never get a plain explanation of what it is, what its GMP program actually checks, or why it keeps appearing in legislative fights.
This guide covers all three. We are an AKA GMP Qualified vendor ourselves, so we have been through the program from the inside, and we will be clear about what the designation does and does not tell you.
What Is the American Kratom Association?
The American Kratom Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization for kratom consumers. According to the AKA's own about page, it was founded in 2014 and is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation in Virginia, with offices in Gainesville, Virginia.
That 501(c)(4) status matters for understanding what the AKA does. It is a social welfare and advocacy organization, which allows it to lobby lawmakers directly. Its core work falls into three areas:
- Legislative advocacy. Promoting state and federal laws that regulate kratom rather than ban it, and opposing prohibition bills.
- Manufacturing standards. Running the GMP Standards Program for vendors, covered in detail below.
- Consumer representation. Speaking for adult kratom consumers in regulatory proceedings, in the press, and when necessary in court.
The AKA's board is chaired by Matt Salmon, and Mac Haddow, the AKA's Senior Fellow on Public Policy, is the spokesperson quoted most often in news coverage of kratom legislation.
The AKA GMP Standards Program
GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practices. In regulated industries like food and supplements, GMP standards govern how a facility documents its processes, handles raw materials, and traces a finished product back through production. Kratom has no federal GMP standard of its own, so in November 2018 the AKA announced a voluntary program for vendors to fill that gap.
According to the AKA GMP Standards Program page, a vendor that wants to become AKA GMP Qualified has to:
- Register and commit to the standards. Vendors review the AKA's GMP requirements and terms, register, and pay an annual fee that covers program administration.
- Pass an independent audit. An AKA-approved third-party auditor inspects the vendor's operation. Vendors have 90 days from registration to reach compliance.
- Test products. The program requires testing to verify the identity, purity, strength, and composition of kratom products.
- Follow AKA labeling standards. Labels must meet requirements based on the AKA's model Kratom Consumer Protection Act, so buyers get the information the standard calls for.
- Renew every year. Qualified status depends on passing a new third-party audit annually. Vendors that do not renew are removed from the list.
What "AKA GMP Qualified" Does and Does Not Mean
This is the part most marketing skips. AKA GMP Qualified means a vendor's manufacturing practices passed an independent audit against the AKA's standards. It is a statement about process: documentation, handling, testing, labeling, and traceability.
It is not a product endorsement. The AKA does not endorse individual products, and qualified vendors are not supposed to claim that it does. It also does not replace the lab report. A GMP audit tells you a vendor has the systems to test and document its products. The certificate of analysis tells you what is in the specific batch you bought. You want both, and our guide on how to read a kratom lab report walks through the second half.
How to Check Whether a Vendor Is Qualified
The AKA publishes its current list of GMP Qualified Vendors. If a site displays an AKA badge, the list is the place to confirm it. NuWave Botanicals is on it. Because status has to be renewed every year, the list is more reliable than any badge, including ours.
One more nuance worth knowing: many retailers carry several outside brands. A retailer can be qualified while some of the brands it stocks are made elsewhere, so it is fair to ask which products in a catalog come from GMP-compliant facilities. We cover that question and seven others in our kratom vendor checklist.
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, usually shortened to KCPA, is the AKA's model state law. Instead of banning kratom, a KCPA sets rules for selling it. Each state writes its own version, but they tend to draw from the same list of provisions:
- A minimum purchase age, set at 18 or 21 depending on the state
- Labeling requirements, often including ingredients, alkaloid content, serving size, and the vendor's name and address
- A ban on adulterated products, including kratom mixed with controlled substances
- Restrictions on synthetic alkaloids, and in some states a cap on 7-OH as a share of total alkaloids
- In some states, vendor or product registration
When South Carolina signed its version in May 2025, the AKA described it as the 16th state to enact kratom consumer protection legislation. More broadly, the National Conference of State Legislatures reported in June 2026 that at least 31 states plus Washington, D.C. regulate kratom in some way, with 22 states setting an age limit and 19 requiring labeling. Not all of those are AKA-model laws, but the KCPA approach has shaped much of that landscape.
For a breakdown of how consumer protection acts compare to outright bans and 7-OH laws, see our guide to what kratom ban laws actually cover.
The AKA's Position on 7-OH and Synthetic Products
The AKA has drawn a firm line between natural leaf kratom and concentrated or semi-synthetic 7-OH products. It has supported regulating or scheduling those products while arguing that natural leaf should not be swept into the same category. That distinction now runs through most kratom legislation, and we explain it in Natural Kratom vs. Synthetic 7-OH.
The AKA has also gone to court over how that line gets enforced. In late August 2026 it sued the DEA over the scope of the agency's temporary scheduling order for three 7-OH-related compounds, asking the court to confirm the order does not reach natural leaf. We covered the filing in The AKA Is Suing the DEA. You can follow its current activity on the AKA press releases page.
Why It Matters When You Buy Kratom
For a buyer, the AKA's work shows up in three practical ways:
- A baseline for vendors. GMP qualification gives you an independently audited starting point when you compare sellers.
- Clearer labels. In KCPA states, labeling rules mean more information on the package before you open it.
- Legal access. Much of the fight over whether natural kratom stays legal in a given state happens through AKA-backed legislation and testimony.
None of that replaces checking the rules where you live. Kratom products are intended strictly for individuals 18 years of age or older, or 21+ where required by applicable state law. We comply with all applicable state and local laws. Orders to restricted areas are not fulfilled. Check your local regulations before ordering.
Where NuWave Fits In
We have been in this industry for more than 12 years, and we are listed among the AKA's GMP Qualified Vendors. Our house lines, including Experience Botanicals powders and Nu capsules, are lab tested and made under the AKA's GMP program, and we focus on traditional leaf products rather than synthetic 7-OH. Browse the full kratom powder collection, or email orders@nuwavebotanicals.com to request the lab report for a specific batch.
American Kratom Association FAQ
Is the American Kratom Association a government agency?
No. The AKA is a private nonprofit advocacy organization. It does not license vendors or enforce laws. Its GMP program is voluntary, and state laws are enforced by state agencies.
What does AKA GMP Qualified mean?
It means a vendor passed an independent third-party audit of its manufacturing practices against the AKA's GMP standards, including testing and labeling requirements. Status must be renewed with a new audit every year. It is not an endorsement of any product.
How do I know if a kratom vendor is AKA GMP Qualified?
Check the AKA's published list of GMP Qualified Vendors on americankratom.org. A badge on a website is a claim. The list is the confirmation.
What is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act?
It is a model state law promoted by the AKA that regulates kratom sales instead of banning them. Versions typically set a minimum age, labeling rules, and a ban on adulterated or synthetic products. Each state's version differs.
FDA Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Kratom products are intended strictly for individuals 18 years of age or older, or 21+ where required by applicable state law.