More AHPA members oppose mandatory product listing for dietary supplements than support it, new survey finds

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More members of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA; Silver Spring, MD) would oppose, rather than support, a requirement for all dietary supplements in the U.S. to be listed in a federal database. The association recently conducted a “neutrally presented” survey of its membership to determine whether members feel the association should support or oppose mandatory listing. The association itself has not yet solidified a stance on supporting or opposing mandatory product listing.

The survey found that 52% of respondents feel AHPA should oppose mandatory product listing, while 18% feel the association should support it, according to the association.

Debate over mandatory product listing (MPL) is heating up as reports suggest lawmakers could soon propose to enact a listing requirement. FDA itself has requested the creation of a registry. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, DC) has come out in support of mandatory listing. But other associations remain on the fence.

In the AHPA newsletter sharing the results of its recent survey, the association stated: “The AHPA Board of Trustees voted in November of 2018 to recognize that the current federal legal and regulatory framework for dietary supplements supports the supplement industry and supplement consumers, and provides FDA all the authority needed to properly regulate lawful supplements, such that the laws and regulations do not need to be revised to include a mandatory premarket registration or notification requirement for dietary supplement products. Thus, the AHPA board has refrained from supporting legislation that would authorize MPL to date, but has not adopted a position to oppose the concept either.”

AHPA said its survey to its members “included neutrally presented, equally weighted arguments commonly made in support of and in opposition to MPL.” The survey found:

• Approximately 52% of respondents stated that MPL would harm dietary supplement consumers and industry, and that AHPA should actively oppose MPL.
• Approximately 18% of respondents stated that MPL would benefit dietary supplement consumers and industry, and that AHPA should actively support MPL.
• The remaining respondents, about 30%, stated that MPL would not provide significant benefit or harm, and supported AHPA maintaining its current position to “refrain from supporting” MPL.

AHPA President Michael McGuffin stated in the newsletter: “AHPA will continue its engagement with industry and government stakeholders to better help all involved understand the potential costs and benefits of MPL.”