FDBusiness.com

The five trade associations representing the dietary supplement industry have welcomed the elevation of the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs (DDSP) to an “Office” status within the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). The groups – the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA), and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) – also congratulated the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), FDA, and Congress for supporting this reorganisation, which they believe will enhance the effectiveness of dietary supplement regulation.

There has been considerable industry growth since DDSP was established in 1994, and with this growth, new regulatory challenges within the industry have presented themselves, the companies said. The five associations have been consistent and longstanding in their joining together to urge FDA to take stronger enforcement action against companies illegally manufacturing and selling adulterated products. In a letter of support to Congress sent earlier this month, the associations expressed belief that the elevation of DDSP to an “Office” could help “increase FDA’s abilities to take more aggressive enforcement action.” Additionally, the groups anticipate that the elevation could “raise the visibility and attention for dietary supplement safety and compliance measures at FDA,” as well as “better utilize CFSAN’s enforcement resources.”

Overall, the industry said that it views the elevation of DDSP not only as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to eliminating the illegal activity and levelling the playing field for the responsible companies already following the law, but also as an important step for increasing consumer safety by cracking down on rogue manufacturers who sell illegal products. As stated in an earlier joint letter to HHS, “Such a move would aid in accomplishing FDA’s current and long-range goals related to dietary supplements.”