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 submits comments on proposed amendments to registration of food facilities

AHPA on Monday submitted comments on the FDA's proposed rule for the registration of food facilities, which amends and updates current registration regulations as part of the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

AHPA comments on California proposal to list goldenseal, aloe as 'known to cause cancer' under Prop 65

AHPA criticizes one of the mechanisms OEHHA uses to add substances to the Prop 65 list

AHPA submitted comments in response to OEHHA's Notice of Intent to List goldenseal root powder and Aloe vera, whole leaf extract, as known to the state to cause cancer under Proposition 65

AHPA Revises Guidance on Prop 65 Warnings for Pulegone

Does Naturally Occurring Pulegone Represent 'Exposure' Under CA Prop 65?

AHPA has updated guidance to help members understand and comply with California Proposition 65 requirements when selling products that contain pulegone, a ketonic monoterpene that is a naturally present constituent in various plant species, including mints.

Limitations of DNA testing for botanical identification

April 14, 2015: DNA analysis can generate false negative results due to the normal and expected lack of DNA in some processed herbal ingredients

The statement provides the view of the American Herbal Products Association of the current state of the science of the use of DNA barcoding as a technique for authenticating the identity of herbal materials for this purpose and is intended to explain any misunderstandings that may arise out of the March 30 agreement as to the currently limited applicability of this analytical technique.

AHPA Policy prohibits the sale of bulk caffeine

Recent reports associate serious injury and death with use of pure caffeine purchased by consumers in bulk packaging

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).

Whitepaper on DNA barcode testing reveals how misapplication of science led to baseless results

The Capabilities and Limitations of DNA Barcode Testing

A comprehensive analysis of DNA barcode testing on botanical dietary supplements has called conclusions reached by the New York Attorney General’s (NY AG) office in an investigation of four major retailers of botanical supplements, a “…misuse of the technologies” that led to a “…misinterpretation of test results.”

AHPA responds to dozens of media outlets' coverage of New York Attorney General's inadequate testing of herbal supplements

AHPA has responded to more than 20 media outlets' coverage of the New York State Attorney General's supplement investigation to stress that the allegations are based on inadequate and unproven testing of herbal supplement products. The test results are at the core of the Attorney General's misinformed allegations that several major retailers are selling adulterated and/or mislabeled herbal dietary supplements.

AHPA-ERB Foundation Forms The American Ginseng Advisory Panel

American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA-ERB Foundation) formed the American Ginseng Advisory Panel to provide expertise on the development and maintenance of collecting plant material that will preserve the genetic diversity of wild American Ginseng

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA-ERB Foundation) formed the American Ginseng Advisory Panel to provide expertise on the development and maintenance of collecting plant material that will preserve the genetic diversity of wild American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius).

Cannabis oversight recommendations for regulators

September 10, 2014: Oversight framework promotes best practices for cannabis production and distribution from seed to consumption

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has published recommendations for regulators to address issues related to the safe use and responsible commerce of legally-marketed products derived from Cannabis species.

2014 AHPA Awards

AHPA congratulates 2014 award winners Dr. Bronner’s, Daniel Gagnon, Lyle Craker and VIRGO team

AHPA congratulates the winners of the 2014 AHPA Awards presented to Dr. Bronner’s, Daniel Gagnon, Lyle Craker and VIRGO team members for making substantive, positive contributions to the herbal products industry

Press Room

AHPA Experts