Fighting against age restrictions on safe, legal supplements

 

CRN has a strong and longstanding track record of managing age restriction proposals in the states, taking a strategic approach that prioritizes maintaining an open dialog with a range of stakeholders. 

CRN is fighting back for the dietary supplement industry with litigation in New York.

But, as attendees at our SupplySideWest breakfast briefing heard, this issue is not limited to just New York, or just certain supplements. Legislation introduced across several U.S. states has repeatedly mischaracterized mainstream dietary supplement products, with no science-based rationale for their assertions—and the coalition driving many of these proposals, is persistent in its messaging. 

Get information on how your company can support CRN in its efforts to protect access to safe and beneficial dietary supplements in the U.S.


CRN MEMBERS: See CRN Government Relations and Legal Committee updates for additional details


UPDATES:

OCTOBER 24, 2024: CRN submits a recent decision by the Fifth Circuit Court (Hines v. Pardue) as supplemental authority in an appeal of a lower court decision denying a preliminary injunction that would have stopped enforcement of a New York law age-restricting the sale of certain dietary supplements

AUGUST 21, 2024: CRN to Federal Appeals Court: NY AG’s Arguments Don’t Support Denial of Preliminary Injunction in NY Age Restrictions Case

AUGUST 16, 2024: CRN statement in response to age restriction bill in CA not advancing further this legislative session

JULY 11, 2024: CRN Applauds Amicus Support in First Amendment Lawsuit

JULY 8, 2024: CRN Challenges Preliminary Injunction Decision in New York Age Restriction Lawsuit

MAY 14, 2024: CRN’s New York Age-Restriction Lawsuit Moves Forward on First Amendment Issue


PAST UPDATES AND RESOURCES

APRIL 22, 2024: Federal Court in NY Recognizes CRN Has ‘Standing’ to Sue in Age Restriction Case

APRIL 8, 2024: Hearing Scheduled for CRN’s Preliminary Injunction Request in NY Age Restriction Lawsuit Nutraceuticals World

APRIL 3, 2024: CRN Files Preliminary Injunction Motion Seeking to Stop NY State Age-Restriction Law

MARCH 13, 2024: CRN Files Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutional Law That Restricts Access to Health Products

MARCH 7, 2024: CRN Holds Voting Members-only Meeting on Age Restrictions in the States

NOV. 15, 2023: CRN Testifies Against Proposed Age Restriction Bill in Massachusetts

OCT. 26, 2023: CRN Dismayed by Passing of New York Age Restriction Legislation

JUNE 1, 2023: CRN Voices Disappointment as Age Restriction Bill Passes NY General Assembly


Hear from Susan Hewlings, R.D., Ph.D., on her findings in the Nutrients review, “Eating Disorders and Dietary Supplements: A Review of the Science


JAN. 23, 2023: CRN Applauds New York Governor Hochul’s Veto of Legislation That Called for Age Restrictions on Dietary Supplement Sales

SEPT. 30, 2022: CRN Reacts to Veto of California Age Restriction Legislation

JULY 29, 2022: Tufts' Dr. Blumberg weighs in on Massachusetts age-restriction proposal for supplements

MAY 5, 2021: CRN provides strategic opposition testimony in California, Massachusetts age restriction hearings

“CRN has a unique understanding and depth of knowledge on age restriction proposals,” CRN Government Relations State Committee Chair Ingrid Lebert of Pharmavite notes. “CRN’s team is careful to respectfully engage those stakeholders we aim to educate, which takes strategic relationship building to ensure an open dialogue. When opposition assertions are delivered without consideration of stakeholder perspectives, it creates an additional hurdle for arriving at solutions to best serve consumers, retailers and industry.” 

2020 VIDEO: Misguided efforts to put age restrictions on some people equals limited access for everyone


1. Dietary supplements have extraordinarily strong safety profiles.
2. Age restrictions harm local retailers. 
3. Age restrictions on supplements mean reduced access for everyone.
4. Age restrictions are ineffective because they can’t be enforced."Dietary supplements are regulated as a category of food by FDA because they contain many of the same ingredients that are found in nutritious foods—vitamins, minerals, botanicals, protein, amino acids and other substances that supplement the diet. Supplement marketers are required to report serious adverse events to FDA, and their manufacturing is subject to strict controls and inspection. Age restrictions on supplements make about as much sense as age restrictions on food," CRN President & CEO Steve Mister explains in the video.


JULY 2020:

“Every company in the supplement industry should be concerned. This misguided effort to put age restrictions on some people equals limited access for everyone. What starts as a defined category of restricted products quickly extends to other supplements.”

—President & CEO Steve Mister, Nutrition Industry Executive


 


NOVEMBER 2019: Journal of Adolescent Health publishes CRN letter to the editor, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Not All Supplements are Equal”