Washington, D.C.— Natural products industry members joined the Natural Products Association (NPA) in the Capitol on May 8 to meet with elected officials and their staffers to discuss pressing issues affecting the industry at large. NPA Fly-In day is an annual event that allows industry members to make their voices heard with the individuals in charge of voting and influencing the laws impacting day-to-day business and the health of Americans. WholeFoods Magazine was among the attendees of this year's advocacy event, reporting on what took place on Capitol Hill.
NPA's Advocacy Day
NPA's Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., President and CEO, and Kyle Turk, Vice President of Government Affairs, were among those who welcomed industry members during the event's kick-off reception. Serving as guides for first timers and fly-in day veterans alike, the NPA team worked diligently to prepare all for their day of advocacy. On the agenda of NPA's talking points this year were:
- Modernizing the Drug Preclusion Clause to Safeguard Innovation in the Dietary Supplement Industry: A provision of current law, Section 201(ff)(3)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), threatens to undermine innovation within the dietary supplement industry by precluding certain ingredients from being marketed as dietary supplements if they have previously been investigated or approved as drugs, NPA cautions. The association is urging Congress to revise the drug preclusion clause to ensure that it reflects the original intent of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) and does not prevent legitimate innovation in the dietary supplement marketplace.
- Expanding Access to Dietary Supplements Through HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs: Millions of Americans are unable to be reimbursed for dietary supplement purchases due to an outdated policy from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NPA is urging policymakers to support legislation that allows dietary supplements to be reimbursed without a prescription through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs).
- Clarifying FDA Authority Over Dietary Supplement Regulation: Creatine, brand-chain amino acids, and protein supplements have been restricted or prohibited based on sensationalized news reporting, NPA reports. Current laws are requiring retailers to verify the age of purchasers and/or requiring products carry alarmist warnings on their labels suggesting the dietary supplements may cause specific health conditions or even death. NPA is urging Congress to reinforce regulatory consistency by affirming the FDA's authority over dietary supplements, ensuring uniformity based on science.
- The Dietary Supplement Industry's Dependence on China- Challenges and Strategies for Supply Chain Resilience: China provides essential raw materials including vitamins, amino acids, and key starting materials (KSM) to the U.S. dietary supplement industry. Geopolitical tension or global disruptions can create significant supply chain vulnerabilities for the industry, and NPA is committed to partnering with Congress and the Administration to strengthen domestic manufacturing and ensure affordable access to supplements needed to Making America Healthy Again (MAHA).
Keynote speaker Jim Emme, CEO of NOW Foods and Chairman, provided a brief overview of advocacy goals and legislative priorities, reminding everyone of their importance to the cause: "This is a room full of people who have won, and who continue to win."
Reflections on Fly-In Day
For me, walking toward the nation's capital alongside colleagues and members of the industry has a certain aura to it that is hard to describe. Attending meetings with state representatives and/or members of their staff across several federal buildings and having honest dialogue about the issues that could potentially affect you and your company is a great reminder of how much power our voices have. As Emme stated during his opening remarks speech, "We all have a common goal: to try and help people."
For anyone who has never attended NPA's Fly-In event, the WholeFoods Magazine team strongly encourages you to participate if you are able. The products we create, the services we provide, and everything we offer as an industry affects the lives of millions of individuals, and we need to advocate for this industry so we can best serve those who rely on our products and services. For those who can't attend events like Fly In Day in person, follow NPA's Action Center for other ways to make your voice heard on key issues.
