ACCESS 2023 REPORTS | ACCESS Q1 2024 REPORT
CRN led the industry in its strategically executed fight against an unconstitutional age restriction law that took effect in New York in April. In addition, the CRN team continued its work educating influential stakeholders about the value of dietary supplements in the second quarter. This page includes links to the content referenced in our Q2 2024 Industry Impact printable one-page summary.
Following is a brief recap of CRN’s impactful work for its members during Q2 in each of the areas of our strategic plan:
Expanding Self-Regulatory Initiatives
- CRN’s announcement of new voluntary guidelines focused on melatonin-containing supplements and gummy dietary supplements earned coverage by several consumer media outlets including CNN, Yahoo News, ABC News, USA Today, and more.
Influencing Public Policy
- CRN advanced its litigation arguing that New York state-imposed age restrictions on dietary supplement sales based on truthful claims being made for the product are a violation of First Amendment protections for commercial speech.
- CRN was the sole opposition present at a California hearing on age restriction legislation and was on the ground in Massachusetts to meet with members of the state's legislature.
- CRN hosted a Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus briefing highlighting its Supplements to Savings report demonstrating the targeted use of supplements can save billions in health care costs.
Improving Consumer Access
- CRN submitted comments to Health Canada raising concerns about proposed fee changes that would drive up costs, stifle innovation, reduce consumer choice, and potentially increase the incidence of poor-quality or illegal products. See additional comment submissions here.
Cultivating Positive Public Perceptions
- CRN promoted content demonstrating member leadership, responsibility, and expertise through its Profiles in Leadership and Experts Explain. In addition, a newly launched social media campaign showcases members of CRN’s board of directors.
- CRN pushed back against inaccurate media reports that included wrongly stating that “dietary supplements aren’t regulated,” and coverage of a new JAMA study misrepresenting the benefits of multivitamins—see the CBS Mornings spot including CRN commentary.
Expanding Membership and Educational Offerings
- CRN held its annual Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Forum with ACI, as well as a toxicology workshop, “Litigation, AI, Safety and Beyond: A Toxicologist's Focus on Supplements,” and two educational webinars, one on EPR requirements and one with President & CEO Steve Mister addressing the membership on the association’s 2024 priorities.
- CRN welcomed new voting member Specnova and associate members Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Becker and the Talati Law Firm.
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
CRN convenes members for outreach on prenatal supplements at ACOG
The CRN Foundation presented a standing-room-only session at the 2024 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Clinical and Scientific Meeting in May. The session, “Front and Center with Prenatal Supplements: What the Science Says, and What HCPs Need to Know,” featured Dr. Michael McBurney and Dr. Kecia Gaither. CRN members Balchem Human Nutrition and Health, Church & Dwight, dsm-firmenich, Kemin Human Nutrition and Health, OmniActive Health Technologies, and Pharmavite partnered with the foundation on the project, which included an informational booth.
CRN presents at ‘Performance Enhancing Supplement Summit’
CRN President & CEO Steve Mister spoke at the Performance Enhancing Substances (PES) Summit in May hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) and Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS), a program of the Department of Defense’s Uniformed Services University’s Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP).
CRN discusses U.S. regulatory framework at CHFA
CRN’s Jim Griffiths, Ph.D., spoke at the Canada Health Food Association (CHFA) Natural Organic Wellness (NOW) conference along with Rick Kingston, PharmD, of CRN associate member SafetyCall, for the Regulatory Forum, speaking on “Balancing Safety and Success: Unveiling the US Regulatory Model for Natural Health Products.”
CRN collaborates with key organizations, USP, AANP
USP — Contributing to the future of dietary supplement standards from the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), CRN members and staff participated in the June USP Stakeholder Forum.
AANP — CRN briefed members of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) on the state of play of FSA/HSAs legislation that would allow for dietary supplement purchases to be reimbursed.
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