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.

AHPA expresses opposition to mandatory product registration

November 2015: AHPA restates recommendation to submit labels to existing federal database

"The existing Dietary Supplement Label Database is an effective platform to provide consumers with the same type of information that would be provided by mandatory product registration," said AHPA President Michael McGuffin.

AHPA kombucha education program supports industry compliance

Kombucha experts provide guidance and resources

AHPA presented three webinars as part of its recently launched kombucha education program aimed at encouraging and supporting compliance with kombucha manufacturing, labeling, and sales regulations

AHPA joins coalition opposing proposed revision to Prop 65 lead safe harbor

October 2015: OEHHA proposal is problematic from both a policy and scientific standpoint

AHPA joined a coalition to express concerns about OEHHA's proposed revisions to the Proposition 65 safe harbor Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for lead

AHPA Provides Perspective on Emergency Room Visits Purportedly Associated with Supplements

When placed into context, study demonstrates relative safety of supplements

Article published in New England Journal of Medicine

overstates emergency room (ER) visits associated with dietary supplements. Study also shows supplements are relatively safe compared to other product categories.

AHPA provides regulatory insight on essential oils at aromatherapy conference

American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Special Regulatory Counsel Tami Wahl provided an overview of federal regulatory compliance issues pertaining to essential oils during the Alliance of International Aromatherapists' (AIA) 2015 International Aromatherapy Conference and Wellness Expo last week in Denver.

Physician provides data on Americans' alarming nutrient deficiencies at Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus briefing

CDC data show that Americans don't get sufficient essential nutrients from food alone

Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 2015 -- Data from the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that tens of millions of Americans aren't getting enough essential nutrients to ensure their bodies function optimally, a stark contrast to headlines and soundbites that assert Americans get the nutrients they need from food alone.

AHPA urges USP to use more precise terminology in proposed general chapter

August 2015: AHPA Update

AHPA expresses concern that USP's proposal confuses unlawful misbranded drugs with legal dietary supplements

AHPA submits comments on FDA draft guidance for mandatory food recalls under FSMA

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) submitted comments yesterday on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) draft guidance issued on May 7 for mandatory food recall provisions in the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA).

AHPA advocacy efforts ensure consumer access to lawful herbal supplements in Louisiana

The American Herbal Products Association's (AHPA's) successful advocacy efforts in Louisiana will ensure consumers have access to common herbal supplements that support health and well being. Legislation advocated by AHPA, passed by the Louisiana legislature on June 9 and signed into state law on July 1, allows certain herbs that had been banned by the state to again be sold in dietary supplement products.

AHPA Cannabis Committee submits comments on proposed state marijuana regulations for Alaska

June 24, 2015: Cannabis Alert

AHPA Cannabis Committee submitted comments on June 19 in response to the Alaskan Alcoholic Beverage Control Board / Marijuana Control Board's May 19, 2015, Proposed Regulations

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