FEBRUARY 15, 2022
WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, applauds today’s confirmation of Robert M. Califf, MD, as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The following is a statement from CRN’s President and CEO, Steve Mister:
“Congratulations to Dr. Califf on his confirmation as FDA Commissioner. CRN supports his confirmation, and we look forward to working with Dr. Califf and other FDA leaders to keep strengthening the dietary supplement and functional food industry and protecting consumers’ ability to access safe and beneficial products. We’ll do this together by ensuring products continue to meet all regulatory requirements.
“Dr. Califf’s confirmation comes at a pivotal time for this industry. Consumers are more proactive than ever about their health—four out of five Americans use a dietary supplement, according to CRN’s latest consumer survey. This industry needs a robust and responsive FDA that enforces the law, addresses safety concerns, and provides incentives for continued innovation and high-quality manufacturing. As Dr. Califf begins planning his agenda, we urge him to prioritize the following action items:
- 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
- Work with Congress to enact legislation to establish mandatory product listing for supplements
- Establish a legal pathway to market for hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) as a dietary supplement
- Issue final guidance on the labeling of probiotics
- Issue final guidance for new dietary ingredients, along with an official list of pre-DSHEA dietary ingredients that are “grandfathered” under the 1994 law
- 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 for nearly 50 years, and we look forward to continuing under Dr. Califf’s leadership. Together, we can work toward the shared goal of growing an innovative and safe dietary supplement marketplace that protects consumers, while keeping at bay unnecessary regulatory burdens for the industry.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 200+ 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. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.