Washington, D.C.—The American Conference Institute (ACI) and Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) recently held their annual Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Forum on Dietary Supplements at the New York City Bar Association location in Manhattan. This year, the event's talking points ranged from current FDA policy to the continued progression of regulatory expectations. With specialist analysis from CRN experts as well as senior FDA and FTC officials, guests heard from individuals directly involved in the matters that are impacting the future of our industry.
Navigating a Changing Regulatory Landscape
Several of the discussions from the two-day event examined legal, regulatory, and policy issues, including:
- The effects of new and future FDA policies related to new dietary ingredient notifications (NDINs), drug preclusion, Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), enforcement priorities, and broader efforts to modernize dietary supplement oversight.
- The increasingly active role of states in regulating dietary supplements, creating a growing patchwork of requirements that companies must navigate while maintaining national compliance programs.
The main thread of the 14th annual summit centered around FDA modernization efforts. Experts advised companies to anticipate an environment in which regulatory expectations remain fluid, requiring more agile governance, stronger cross-functional collaboration, and proactive compliance planning. "The conversations throughout this conference made clear that regulatory engagement and collaboration across the industry have never been more important," shared CRN Senior Vice President & General Counsel Megan Olsen. "As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, opportunities to engage directly with FDA and FTC leaders, hear diverse expert perspectives, and exchange practical experiences help companies make informed decisions while continuing to deliver safe, innovative products that consumers can trust."
Olsen, who co-chaired the conference alongside Carlos Lopez, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Niagen Bioscience, shared an overview of the industry's most pressing challenges, the unprecedented pace of federal and regulatory activity, and the importance of collaboration among legal, regulatory, and compliance professionals. Olsen also interviewed FTC attorney Christine DeLorme, discussing advertising compliance and consumer protection priorities and the importance of robust substantiation, the responsible use of testimonials and reviews, and maintaining consumer trust in an evolving digital marketplace. Attendees were also able to sit in on a keynote discussion between CRN Senior Vice President & Chief Science Officer Andrea Wong, Ph.D., and Cara Welch, Ph.D., director of FDA's Office of Dietary Supplement Programs, on FDA's current priorities, ongoing efforts to modernize dietary supplement oversight, and the scientific and regulatory issues expected to influence the agency's work in the years ahead.
Looking Ahead: FDA Priorities and Emerging Technologies
The livestreamed event was an opportunity for industry members to get an honest perspective on current FDA priorities. From ongoing efforts to modernize dietary supplement oversight to the scientific and regulatory issues that could influence the department's work in the years ahead, the program's agenda also covered emerging technologies. Speakers examined how artificial intelligence is impacting regulatory compliance, scientific substantiation, post-market surveillance, and risk monitoring. Presenters also explained how AI is assisting companies to navigate through an increasingly complex marketplace by strengthening regulatory decision-making and creating an environment for companies to identify issues before they arise.
