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Press Room

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.

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AHPA Press Releases and Updates for the Media

Sustainability Self-Assessment Tools & Standards

Presented July 22, 2020 -- Duration: 2 hours

Webinar presenters will address different approaches to sustainability self-assessment, discuss various sustainability standards, and how to create realistic science based targets, and present examples that will help companies of all sizes plan and execute meaningful self-assessments.

AHPA online Botanical Safety Handbook updated with new information

AHPA online Botanical Safety Handbook updated with new information

Historical use as food added for plantain leaf, stinging nettle and elderberry

AHPA continues to expand and update the online Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd ed. to provide the herbal industry with comprehensive safety information on over 500 species of herbs from clinical trials, pharmacological and toxicological studies, medical case reports, and historical texts.

AHPA requests USDA APHIS amend and delay Phase VI of the import declarations enforcement schedule

August 2020: “Other” essential oils should be removed from the list of products covered under Phase VI

In comments submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), AHPA requests the agency to amend Phase VI of its import declarations enforcement schedule by removing “other” essential oils from the list of products covered under this phase.
Tony Hayes, 1955-2020 -- In  Memoriam

Tony Hayes, 1955-2020 -- In Memoriam

With profound sadness we announce the passing of our dear colleague and friend Tony Hayes

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear colleague and friend Tony Hayes. Tony was a producer and marketer of North American wildcrafted herbs for almost 50 years. He began his career in 1973 as an herb buyer for Lowe Fur and Herb of North Wilkesboro, then in 1981 went to work for Wilcox Drug Company in Boone, North Carolina. In 2000 he and his wife Sandy started their own business, Ridge Runner Trading Company.

July 2020 AHPA Report

AHPA Members, Log in to access the AHPA Report

The July  2020 AHPA Report includes AHPA goes virtual, postal service funding request, sustainability webinar on July 22, updated CA Prop 65 guidance, revised CITES primer, FTC proposed rule for 'Made in the USA,' and more.

AHPA requests adequate federal funding for USPS

July 1, 2020: AHPA members depend on the Postal Service to transport herbal products

AHPA President Michael McGuffin sent a letter to Congressional leaders in the U.S. House and Senate to request adequate federal funding be included in a fourth COVID-19 relief package to ensure the financial viability and continued operations of the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Case Studies - Substantiating Claims for Herbal Immune Support Products

Presented June 17, 2020

Webinar presenters explain ways to ensure your marketing claims for herbal immune support products are substantiated, truthful and not misleading. Industry experts review several methods they’ve used to ensure their dietary supplement product claims are well substantiated, including: randomized, controlled clinical trials on a well-known elderberry product; in vitro testing to support the legitimacy of the product; and the relevance of use and training in substantiating the effectiveness of traditional Chinese herbal formulations.

FDA and FTC highlight attention to intravenous therapies and social media in COVID-19 warning letters

Excerpt from the June 2020 AHPA Report

Since the first week of March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have been issuing warning letters alleging that marketers promoted a wide variety of products with claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, diagnose or cure COVID-19. AHPA has analyzed 135 COVID-19 related warning letters issued by either FDA or FTC or by the agencies jointly between March 6, 2020, and May 11, 2020, and made available in each agency’s coronavirus information center as of May 15, 2020.

AHPA goes virtual for the remainder of 2020

All in-person events to be held online in 2020

Dear AHPA members and friends in the herbal community,

I am reaching out today to let you know that all AHPA activities normally held as in-person meetings will instead be produced as virtual events, webinars or teleconferences for the balance of 2020.

Free Webinar: Reopening Your Herbal Products Business -- COVID-19 & the “New Normal”

Presented June 10, 2020

This free webinar provides practical information on how best to resume post-quarantine business operations while protecting your workforce. Learn what personal protective equipment and workspace adaptations should be implemented and how to manage ongoing business risks and liabilities. Additionally, hear from experts about how to be proactive and search for, and then correct, workplace conditions that could increase risk of COVID-19 infections.

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2022 Annual Fund Sponsors

AHPA appreciates the support of its sponsors, but does not endorse, recommend, or provide a warranty for any sponsor company, its products or services. AHPA has no responsibility for any transaction entered into with any of these companies.