CRN Applauds President Biden's Intent to Nominate Robert M. Califf for FDA Commissioner

OCTOBER 14, 2021

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, applauds President Joe Biden's apparent intent to nominate Robert M. Califf, MD, for Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following is a statement from CRN’s President and CEO, Steve Mister:

“CRN welcomes the news of President Biden's apparent intent to nominate Dr. Robert M. Califf to lead FDA as its next commissioner. We look forward to working with Dr. Califf to strengthen the dietary supplement industry and protect consumers by ensuring products are safe and meet regulatory requirements. 

“As Dr. Califf plans his agenda, we would urge him to prioritize the following action items to strengthen the dietary supplement and functional foods industry:

  1. Increase funding to the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP) at FDA, recognizing this Office must keep pace with the rapidly growing industry it oversees
  2. Work with Congress to enact legislation to establish mandatory product listing for supplements
  3. Establish a legal pathway to market for hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) as a dietary supplement
  4. Issue final guidance on the labeling of probiotics
  5. Issue final guidance for new dietary ingredients, along with an official list of pre-DSHEA dietary ingredients that are “grandfathered” under the 1994 law
  6. Protect consumers and strengthen incentives for innovation with more proactive enforcement of the existing law for dietary supplements 

“CRN has enjoyed a strong working relationship with FDA and looks forward to continuing this relationship under Dr. Califf’s leadership. Together, we will continue growing an innovative and safe marketplace for dietary supplements that protect consumers, while avoiding unwarranted regulatory burdens for the industry.”

 

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ 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 Ethical Principles. For more information, visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.