The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Quality Assurance International (QAI), and the Organic Trade Association (OTA) have released an updated “Guidance on Formulation and Marketing of Dietary Supplements Under the National Organic Program.” Produced collaboratively by the three organizations, this updated resource replaces the 2018 version and provides guidance to companies marketing organically labeled dietary supplements in the U.S.

As AHPA explained in a press release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) implements and enforces the USDA organic regulations, and in January 2023 NOP released the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule to ensure organic integrity is maintained throughout the supply chain. AHPA added that SOE is the most significant piece of organic rulemaking since the regulations came into force in 2002, and it impacts the entire organic supply chain, including some previously exempt operations and operations. Enforcement began on March 19, 2024.

The updated “Guidance on Formulation and Marketing of Dietary Supplements Under the National Organic Program,” which is available to AHPA members through the AHPA website, in addition to being available on OTA website and the NSF website, incorporates details of the new SOE requirements. AHPA noted that it also includes:

• Information about the types of supplements that are eligible for organic certification under the NOP.
• Details on the various NOP labeling categories that are available for several types of supplement products.
• An overview of the regulatory obligations that must be met from the farm to the packaged products, as finished product marketers have regulatory obligations not only for their own manufactured products but also for the organic and nonorganic ingredients they use.

“AHPA is pleased to again partner with QAI and OTA in maintaining this guidance document as a resource for the organic dietary supplement industry,” said Jane Wilson, AHPA Director of Program Development, in the release. “Their leadership and expertise in organic production, and the SOE changes in particular, are key to making sure the organic supplement industry is prepared to meet the new SOE requirements.”

Sonia Acuña-Rubio, Director of Food Product Certification, QAI, an NSF company, added, “With the enforcement date of the SOE rule quickly approaching, this document is a must-read for members across the organic dietary supplement supply chain,” said . “As one of the largest organic certification bodies in the U.S., QAI is committed to supporting the dietary supplement industry with meeting organic regulations, including the SOE, with additional free resources available at nsf.org.”