CRN recently announced progresson the development of its industry-wide dietary supplement product registry—including an official name: Supplement OWL (Online Wellness Library). Nine companies will begin beta testing the Supplement OWL to provide constructive feedback on the registry’s ease of use, user interface, and search capabilities. The Supplement OWL will provide regulators, retailers and eventually consumers with a one-stop shop to evaluate and compare product labels and make more informed decisions about product ingredients and claims. To learn more about the Supplement OWL and the role CRN member companies will play in its implementation, click here.

Don’t miss this Wednesday’s CRN/Informa Regulatory Roundup webinar. At just $149 for CRN members, it’s a great opportunity to set aside a couple of hours and learn about recent developments in Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) requirements, the Final Rule on the Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, current issues and product development strategies for Medical Foods and how to prepare for impending GMO labeling. Register now and join us at 2 pm Eastern on Sept. 14, or view on demand at your convenience.

If you missed last week’s CRN/Informa webinar, Navigating FDA's 2016 NDI Draft Guidance, it will soon be available on demand. Find out more. In addition, the CRN/AHPA webinar, Brexit Impact on the Marketing of Food Supplements in the EU and UK, is available to CRN members free of charge. Find out more. For more information on CRN’s educational offereings, contact Maya English (202-204-7687).

CRN continues to play a pivotal role in establishing productive relationships with state attorneys general (AGs). By attending AG conferences, organizing facility tours, and meeting with individual AGs in their states, CRN is bridging the gap between industry and those offices. In a recent report, CRN’s Rend Al-Mondhiry notes, “Without a doubt, CRN’s efforts have led to increased understanding among the AGs.” She added that CRN will continue its engagement with AG organizations into 2017, including in-state visits with a focus on newly elected AGs. CRN will also continue discussions with FDA, FTC and select state legislatures to ensure that these entities work together. See the full report from Ms. Al-Mondhiry on CRN’s Members Only website. For more information, or in you are interested in are interested in hosting a facility tour, contact Rend Al-Mondhiry (202-204-7672).

The Conference: CRN’s Annual Symposium for the Dietary Supplement Industry is right around the corner, Oct. 26–29. There’s still time to register—and sponsor. Sponsorship can help build brand recognition, identify potential sales leads and raise awareness about a company’s products or services with influential members of the dietary supplement and functional food industry. Check out our complete Sponsorship Prospectus and contact Carl Hyland (202-204-7674) to secure your favorite sponsorship, or discuss your own idea. Read more...

Continuing CRN’s mission to connect member companies with elected officials, FoodState welcomed New Hampshire Attorney General (AG) Joseph Foster to its facility in Londonderry. CRN’s Rend Al-Mondhiry joined the AG on a tour of the building, as company leadership highlighted the good manufacturing practices (GMPs) FoodState follows and how regulations governing the industry help to ensure safety. Read more and see scenes from the visit...

CRN is reviewing FDA’s Federal Register document issued Sept. 7 regarding the regulatory status of vinpocetine. FDA announced its tentative decision that vinpocetine is not a legitimate dietary ingredient, despite having not objected to five separate NDI notifications over the past 10 years. The agency now believes it does not qualify as a botanical and is precluded from use in supplements due to prior clinical investigations of the ingredient. As noted in the document, the comment period will end Nov. 7.

In addition, in case you missed the update on FDA’s changes to the Food Safety Modernization Act rule in the last edition of The Report, see the agency’s website for details.

“But the underlying work—the safety work—is not so much about compliance with NDIs, it’s doing business as a company that’s putting products on the market that people are going to swallow.”

—CRN’s Steve Mister in Natural Products INSIDER, “Dietary Supplement Trade Association Projects Unprecedented Costs to Meet FDA Notification Requirement.”

What else did CRN have to say?

Between March and August, CRN, through its work with Wyatt Communications, successfully pitched an impressive number of stories, resulting in coverage by major media outlets such as Men’s Health, Time, The Huffington Post, and Fox News. Continuing its proactive initiative with Wyatt, CRN maintains a major media presence, providing consumers stories on the latest scientific research on dietary supplement ingredients and products.

On Aug. 30, the California Office of Administrative Law approved the adoption of amendments to Article 6, Clear and Reasonable Warnings, of the California Code of Regulations. The new regulations provide, among other things, methods of transmission and the content of warnings deemed to be compliant with the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). The regulation takes effect Aug. 30, 2018. Read more on CRN’s Members Only website. For more information, contact Rend Al-Mondhiry (202-204-7672).

Responding to a World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade Notice, CRN recently submitted comments to Turkey’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock on proposed regulations for the addition of vitamins and minerals (and other substances) to foods. CRN called for authoritative definitions of what is included/excluded, noting that Codex definitions should be considered when establishing the boundaries of Turkey’s proposed regulations. CRN also called for additional forms of essential minerals to be allowed and listed those approved for use in the U.S., Europe and Brazil. “This would greatly improve international trade and allow the broadest range of suitable and safe ingredients to be used in domestic and imported foods,” the comments noted. See more on CRN’s Members Only website. For more information, contact Jim Griffiths (202-204-7662).

CRN’s International Trade and Market Development Committee (ITMDC) is working closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), International Trade Administration (ITA) Office of Consumer Goods (OCG) to set up one-on-one (one company with one international trade delegation) meetings as part of the ITA International Buyer Program (IBP). An upcoming opportunity is Supply Side West, Oct. 4–8, for which CRN’s Jim Griffiths is connecting CRN members with key country delegations through the IBP. See CRN’s Members Only website for details and contact Jim Griffiths (202-204-7662) to get connected.

The American Botanical Council (ABC) recently released data showing that 2015 marks the twelfth consecutive year of sales growth of the herbal supplement industry. Racking up almost $7 billion in sales, the industry saw a 7.5 percent increase in 2015. ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal commented, “Herb supplement sales continue to grow to record levels, evidence that much of the public considers herbs to be an essential component of a healthy lifestyle.”

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study published in a recent issue of Phytotherapy Research investigated the effects of 90-day supplementation with a standardized extract of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) (FenuSMART), at a dose of 1000 mg/day, on plasma estrogens and postmenopausal discomforts. In those women who received the extract, there was a significant increase in plasma estradiol and improvements on various postmenopausal discomforts and quality of life—including the reduction, or in some cases, cessation, or hot flashes—as compared with the baseline and placebo. See abstract for more information.

See CRN's Research Watch for additional studies.

SupplySide West, taking place Oct. 4–8 in Las Vegas, provides the opportunity to further your product development strategy to bring your products to life through discovery of 10,000+ ingredients and services. The show features over 1,200 exhibitors including: top contract manufacturers; global ingredient suppliers; equipment companies; lab-testing firms; supply chain experts and packaging specialists. In addition, educational sesssion such as a GMP Training course are available to help increase your market credibility and prepare for an FDA inspection. Find out more and register today at supplysideshow.com to join 14,000 influential peers from around the world.

Check out the calendar and save the date for upcoming webinars and events...

September 12–13
2016 DAGA Fall Policy Forum
Washington, DC
—Al-Mondhiry

September 13
Dietary Supplement Caucus Briefing—Counting on Your Sleep: Health and Dietary Supplements
Washington, DC
—Mister; Wroblewski

September 13–14
National Academies of Sciences Workshop “Nutrition Across the Lifespan for Healthy Aging”
Washington, DC
—MacKay (presenting)

September 14
Fall Regulatory Roundup webinar
—MacKay (moderating); CRN staff

September 14–16
Prospective Member Visits
Southern California (Los Angeles area)
—Hyland; Mister

September 15–16
3rd Semi-Annual Food Labeling: Evolving Regulatory Compliance Conference
Alexandria, VA
—Wong (presenting)

September 18–20
RAPS Regulatory Convergence
San Jose, CA
—MacKay (presenting)

September 18–20
Council for State Retail Associations Annual Conference
Charleston, SC
—Lebert

September 20
CRN Executive Committee Meeting
Baltimore, MD
—CRN Staff

September 21
CRN Board of Directors Meeting
Baltimore, MD
—CRN Staff

September 22–24
Natural Products Expo East
Baltimore, MD
—various CRN Staff attending

September 25
CRN-I Scientific Session and Reception
New Delhi, India
—Griffiths (moderating)

September 26–27
NAD Advertising Conference
New York, NY
—Al-Mondhiry (presenting); Mister (presenting)

September 26–30
Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCAsia)
New Delhi, India
—Griffiths

September 29–30
4th Annual Food & Beverage Litigation, Compliance and Regulatory Exchange
Chicago, IL
—Al-Mondhiry (presenting)

September 29–30
Ministry of Health and the National Business Association of Columbia–Health Care Cost Savings
Bogota, Colombia
–Greene (presenting)  

October 3–4
2016 NAAG Fall Consumer Protection Seminar
Phoenix, AZ
—Al-Mondhiry

October 5–8
Supplyside West
Las Vegas, NV
—various staff attending

October 8–13
International Society of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (ISNFF)
Orlando, FL
—Griffiths (moderating)

October 26
The Workshop: CRN’s Day of Science
Dana Point, CA
—CRN Staff

October 26–29
The Conference: CRN’s Annual Symposium for the Dietary Supplement Industry
Dana Point, CA
—CRN Staff

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