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.

FDA Seeks Comment on Tentative Conclusion that Vinpocetine Is not a Dietary Ingredient

FDA maintains vinpocetine is a synthetic compound

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notice scheduled to be published tomorrow in the Federal Register requests comments on the agency's tentative conclusion that vinpocetine is not a dietary ingredient and is excluded from the definition of a dietary supplement.

Report from the 2016 Conference of Western Attorneys General Annual Meeting

By Douglas F. Gansler

In January, AHPA and UNPA launched a joint campaign to develop working relationships with state attorneys general (AG) and educate them about the herbal supplement industry to ensure they have an accurate understanding of the industry. Former Maryland Attorney General and Past President of the National Association of Attorneys General. Gansler was hired to help deliver information and expertise about the industry to his colleagues.

FDA Releases Revised Draft of NDI Guidance

August 2016: Revised draft replaces FDA’s 2011 draft

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today released revised draft guidance for new dietary ingredients (NDIs) to be published in the Federal Register on Friday. The revised draft replaces FDA’s 2011 draft.

Congress Clears Federal Mandatory GMO Labeling Bill to Be Signed into Law

Federal law would preempt state GMO labeling requirements

AHPA President Michael McGuffin comments on bill's passage

FDA Issues Final Rule Amending Food Facility Registration Regulations

July 2016: Rule effective date: September 12, 2016

On July 13, 2016, FDA issued the final rule, “Amendments to Registration of Food Facilities.” The final rule implements the food facilities registration provisions of section 415 of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA); amends and updates Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration regulations; and improves the utility of the food registration database.

Submit Updates for the Next Edition of AHPA's Herbs of Commerce

Deadline for submissions is Aug. 1

Herbs of Commerce 3^rd Edition is coming. AHPA begins open call for updates and additions.

AHPA Presents on GACP and GMP for Herbal Ingredients at ACI Conference

June 2016: AHPA leading industry consensus process for creation of self-regulatory initiatives

American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) President Michael McGuffin discussed development of good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP) in the herbal ingredient supply chain on June 28 at the American Conference Institute's (ACI's) fourth annual Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Forum on Dietary Supplements in New York City.

Wilson Lau to chair AHPA Board of Trustees

Lau replaces Graham Rigby

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Executive Committee has appointed Wilson Lau as chair of the AHPA Board of Trustees until March 2017.

AHPA Opposes Blumenthal-Durbin Amendment to Restrict Some Supplement Sales on Military Bases

AHPA opposes separate regulatory standards that differ from existing general standards

“It is illogical as a regulatory principle and unworkable from a business perspective to require one set of rules for products sold through one channel of trade, such as stores on military bases, and another set of rules in the rest of the country,” said AHPA president, Michael McGuffin.

AHPA Urges FDA to Define "Natural" to Promote Clarity and Consistency

May 2016: Consumers should not be misled by inconsistent or inaccurate uses of "natural"

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday encouraging the agency to establish, through rulemaking, a regulatory definition for the term "natural" (and possibly other terms, such as "100% natural" and "made with natural [named ingredient(s)]") for the labeling of human food products, and other products regulated by FDA such as animal foods, cosmetics, and botanical drugs.

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