The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Board of Trustees on March 4 established a trade requirement that prohibits sale by AHPA members of pure caffeine in bulk form at retail (to consumers). The policy is effective immediately and has been included in AHPA's Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. 

The AHPA Board's action came in the wake of recent reports associating serious injury and death with use of pure caffeine purchased by consumers in bulk packaging. These events also prompted several U.S. Senators to urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban sale of bulk caffeine. See AHPA Legal Alert, 1/27/2015. 

AHPA members agree to comply with the Association's Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, which contains trade requirements adopted by the association. Revised on an ongoing basis, AHPA's trade requirements are created and codified when the industry determines that policies beyond those mandated by federal laws serve the common interest of the industry and our consumers.