CRN Applauds Efforts to Harmonize Dietary Supplement Audits — Expresses Support for Supplement Safety & Compliance Initiative Goals

Washington, D.C., April 10, 2019—In response to the Supplement Safety & Compliance Initiative’s (SSCI) publication of draft standards against which the industry can benchmark dietary supplement audit programs, published March 28 contemporaneously with the organization’s meeting in Bentonville, AR, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, issued the following statement: 

Statement by Steve Mister, president & CEO, CRN:

“CRN is pleased to express our support for the industry-driven Supplement Safety & Compliance Initiative (SSCI) and commends the project’s mission to create a single benchmark for supplement supply chain audit standards in an effort to harmonize these standards for dietary supplement manufacturers. SSCI is a great example of industry self-regulation combined with collaboration between retailers and manufacturers to create efficiencies in the audit process and to increase consumer confidence in the industry and its products. 

As a member of SSCI, CRN is optimistic that the initiative will bring stability and predictability to supplement safety and quality audit standards, similar to what the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) did for the food industry. By assuring that products in the supply chain meet the expectations of manufacturers, retailers, regulators and ultimately consumers, SSCI will be able to provide adequate assurances that safety and quality indicators are being met, such as GMP compliance, ingredient identity, and product purity and composition, and to do so in an efficient manner.  

CRN expects industry to recognize the importance of aligning audit initiatives and looks forward to SSCI collaborating with other groups with similar goals, such as the Global Retailers and Manufacturers Alliance (GRMA). We’re hopeful that groups like SSCI and GRMA will work together to standardize and improve audit processes and create consistent, compatible and efficient solutions that best serve all aspects of the industry.”

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 150+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_SupplementsFacebook, and LinkedIn.