Message from Co-Chairs
Catch up with our Co-Chairs Steve Mister and Scott Bass on the Current State of the Dietary Supplements Industry.
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Watch a video greeting from Steve Mister Now
American Conference Institute (ACI) together with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) invite you to join us at the Industry’s Premier Legal and Regulatory Dietary Supplements Conference…now in a Virtual Format.
Dear Colleagues:
We’re going virtual! When we began planning this year’s conference, I intended to reflect on the relatively crisis-free, productive year the industry had enjoyed in 2019—sales up modestly, few regulatory actions, strong consumer interest—little did I know what 2020 and COVID-19 would bring. The dietary supplement industry has been relatively unscathed from the damaging, confidence-robbing media stories we’ve seen in previous years. That’s due in large part to many efforts across the industry to strengthen quality, reassure consumers, and demonstrate the scientific backing for our products. The industry has used this goodwill and momentum productively to advance important regulatory initiatives and build consumer confidence.
And that’s been rewarded by the dramatic increase in sales during the unfolding COVID-19 crisis. Still unclear is how consumers will respond in the face of a tough global economy and new challenges for healthcare. Industry must remain vigilant to address the challenges from this unprecedented crisis, ensure consumers still have access to safe and quality products, and not lose sight of the important initiatives that will set the industry up for success for years to come.
Other issues are also top of mind, like CBD. While FDA has issued warning letters and public statements, but there’s a growing sense that the agency is complicit in creating a rogue market by its inaction. What is the pathway forward for legal supplements containing CBD? That leads to even greater questions concerning approval of new ingredients generally and issuance of the final NDI guidance. Many argue that it is time for DSHEA 2.0, but questions persist regarding aspects of DSHEA 1.0—such as the very definition of a dietary supplement. Topics like mandatory product listing, eliminating what some call the “GRAS loophole,” and FDA authorization of third-party inspectors for GMPs are ideas gaining traction.
And let’s not forget private class actions and state AGs as sources of concern for supplement marketers. Class action attorneys have found this industry and companies need to be both litigation resistant and litigation ready. We must not only react to legal threats and efforts to undermine the public’s trust in our products, but also focus on our innovation, self-policing initiatives, and scientific proof that our products really do benefit the public.
This year’s conference will focus on the new era we are entering – ensuring continued compliance, while learning how to address the new challenges. We will examine immune function claims in the era of COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions caused by the global pandemic. We’ll also explore NDI notifications vs. GRAS submissions, the impacts of state consumer protection activity, the latest on Prop 65 and class action litigation, new developments in probiotics, prebiotics, and now postbiotics, as well as the increasing international trade issues that have implications for everyone—like tariffs, Brexit, and trade barriers at Codex.
ACI and CRN have collaborated to produce an agenda ripe with topics reflecting today’s most pressing industry concerns. We have included interactive sessions to help explore resolutions to complex new challenges and ongoing obstacles. Be part of this industry-leading event, network with your peers and join us to learn what’s new—as well as have some fun.
We look forward to seeing you in New York or having you join us virtually this June.
Steve Mister
President & CEO
Council for Responsible Nutrition