American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) > News

Our Mission

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the national trade association and voice of the herbal products industry. Founded in 1982, AHPA's mission is to promote the responsible and sustainable commerce of herbal products to ensure that consumers have informed access to a wide variety of safe herbal goods. AHPA’s Vision is for high quality herbal products to be readily accessible to and broadly used by consumers.

Our Expertise

AHPA has particular expertise on the history, science, and regulation of botanicals while its work also has significant influence on non-herbal dietary supplements. Similarly, AHPA expends its resources on issues in the U.S. marketplace and in the international arena, wherever member interests are served.

Our Members

AHPA is comprised of more than 350 domestic and international companies conducting business as growers, processors, manufacturers, and marketers of herbs and herbal products. AHPA members’ herbal products are in tea, beverage, dietary supplement, sports nutrition, personal care, pet and other product categories. AHPA membership also includes individuals, companies and organizations who serve the industry, including consultants, attorneys, media, researchers, educators, and medical professionals.

White paper: Good Herbal Compounding and Dispensing Practices

Best practices for compounding and dispensing herbal formulations

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has issued a white paper to guide qualified practitioners who compound herbal formulations for clients based on one-on-one consultations.

AHPA statement on confirmation of Dr. Gottlieb as FDA commissioner

Dr. Gottlieb's views on dietary supplements are consistent with industry views

AHPA congratulates Dr. Gottlieb on his confirmation and looks forward to supporting FDA efforts to enforce dietary supplement laws and regulations as intended by Congress.

An overview of more than 20 years of NDI notification data

931 NDI notifications were submitted (or resubmitted) to FDA between 1995 and 2016

More than 20 years of NDI notification data from AHPA's New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) Database show that 931 NDI notifications were submitted (or resubmitted) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1995 and 2016.

AHPA encourages FDA to allow "healthy" claims for herbs, spices and teas

April 2017: Current regulation needs to be updated to be consistent with the latest nutrition research

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) submitted comments yesterday encouraging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the criteria for use of the term "healthy" beyond nutrient content claims to include claims for other foods, including herbs, spices and teas, that promote "healthy eating patterns" as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

AHPA President Michael McGuffin participates in United Plant Savers board meeting

McGuffin is has served on the UpS board for nearly 20 years

AHPA President Michael McGuffin last week participated in the United Plant Savers (UpS) board of directors meeting to support the organization's goal of protecting native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come.

AHPA submits comments to USDA on Organic Research, Promotion, and Information Order

April 2017: AHPA recommends more funding for organic agricultural research

AHPA submitted comments yesterday to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in response to a January 2017 notice of proposed rulemaking that would establish an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for certified organic products.

AHPA submits comments on coumarin to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

April 2017: Coumarin is a natural constituent of some food plants

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) submitted comments this week in response to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's (OEHHA's) request for relevant information on the carcinogenic hazards of the chemical coumarin (CAS No. 91-64-5).

AHPA and LifeScienceRisk Develop Prop 65 Insurance Coverage for the Dietary Supplement Industry

AHPA's comprehensive Prop 65 data used to develop innovative insurance coverage

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and LifeScienceRisk (LSR) announced today a California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) coverage for the herbal product and dietary supplement industries.

AHPA corrects inaccurate article on dietary supplements

Dietary supplements are regulated by an extensive framework of laws and regulations implemented and enforced by FDA and other federal agencies

AHPA sent this letter to the editor to The Daily Beast to correct an article ("Tom Price's Other Failure: Snake Oil Supplements," April 9, 2017) which inaccurately states that the FDA has been "prohibited from regulating dietary supplements," and falsely describes the industry as "unregulated."

AHPA endorses Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act

Legislation would help boost federal expertise on botanicals

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has formally endorsed the Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act (H.R. 1054) and will be advocating for the bill's passage in the U.S. Congress.

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