Latest News

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  AHPA welcomes nomination of Dr. Heidi Overton for FDA Commissioner

  August 19, 2026 President Donald Trump has tapped Dr. Heidi Overton to serve as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Overton currently serves as Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy at the White House, focusing on health issues. She previously served as a White House Fellow during the first Trump administration and in leadership at the America First Policy Institute. She holds a medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in Clinical Investigation from Johns Hopkins University. "AHPA supports Dr. Heidi Overton's nomination for FDA Commissioner,” said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. “As a physician with a Ph.D. in Clinical Investigation, Dr. Overton has helped lead CBD policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council. In our engagement with her, AHPA has found her committed to strong scientific principles alongside a pro-innovation posture. When contributing to the development of policy for full-spectrum CBD products, she consulted not only scientific literature but also key industry resources, including the AHPA Hemp Lexicon. Her work on crucial hemp and CBD policy demonstrates a clear commitment to health, science, and patient access to health-promoting products. “We believe Dr. Overton's leadership will help protect consumer safety and foster innovation as the FDA considers industry input on critical issues — especially expanding the scope of dietary supplement ingredients, a topic on which AHPA and other industry representatives provided extensive comments at the agency's public meeting earlier this year,” Rigby added. AHPA looks forward to working closely with Dr. Overton and the agency on protecting consumer access to safe, high-quality dietary supplements and herbal products as well as advancing innovation backed by sound science.

  • Wednesday, August 19, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  FDA issues GRAS proposed rule; new substances would require notifications

  August 11, 2026 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a long-anticipated proposed rule to revise the pathway to market for food substances that qualify as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Per current regulations, a company may voluntarily notify FDA of a determination that a substance qualifies as GRAS under particular conditions of use, but FDA does not require submission of such notices. Under the new proposed rule, companies introducing a food substance into interstate commerce would be required to notify FDA of GRAS determinations and provide substantiation of GRAS status, generally in line with the current voluntary notification process. Among other proposed changes, FDA would have up to 360 days to respond to GRAS notices that the agency “files” after their submission. (FDA proposes to complete an initial “filing” determination within 45 days of submission.) FDA also proposes a time-limited, “streamlined” submission pathway for companies that previously introduced food substances pursuant to a self-GRAS determination. Available for a year from the effective date of any final rule, companies using this pathway would need to submit, among other elements, information on conditions of use along with evidence of presence in interstate commerce prior to the effective date of the final rule. The proposed streamlined pathway would not require submission of evidence substantiating that the subject substance qualifies as GRAS for its intended uses. FDA would include in a public database submissions made under both the proposed mandatory notification pathway and the transitional streamlined pathway. As of now, the comment period for the proposed rule will remain open through December 9, 2026. “AHPA welcomes FDA's embrace of GRAS as a pathway to market for food, including dietary supplement, ingredients with their publication of the proposed rule,” said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. “Through continued engagement with FDA during this rulemaking process — including comment submission — AHPA will maintain its focus on ensuring the agency possesses the resources and specialized expertise necessary to ensure public access to herbal and botanical ingredients.”

  • Tuesday, August 11, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  AHPA members champion key legislative priorities for dietary supplements and herbal products on Capitol Hill

  July 23, 2026 Yesterday, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) hosted an engaging and productive Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C., bringing herbal product and dietary supplement leaders to the nation's capital to engage directly with federal policymakers on critical regulatory and legislative issues. Throughout the day, the AHPA delegation met with more than two dozen congressional offices representing their respective districts and states across the country. In these crucial discussions, AHPA members advocated for key industry priorities, including: State preemption: Reaffirming federal authority over dietary supplement regulation and preempting conflicting state and local requirements to preserve a single, science-based national regulatory framework while maintaining robust FDA oversight. HSA/FSA eligibility: Modernizing consumer healthcare access by supporting legislation to allow dietary supplements to qualify as eligible Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) expenses, removing unnecessary financial barriers to proactive self-care. Drug preclusion: Addressing the unpredictable application of the drug preclusion provision to establish a clear, predictable regulatory pathway for dietary ingredients that restores a fair balance between pharmaceutical innovation and consumer access. A highlight of the event was a special address from Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY), who spoke to members during AHPA's Day on the Hill luncheon. "We sincerely thank Congressman Langworthy for taking the time to personally address our members and acknowledging the importance of dietary supplements to millions of Americans," said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. "His sponsorship of the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act (H.R. 7366) speaks to his commitment to protecting consumer health and common sense, and we are grateful for his leadership." "My deepest gratitude also goes out to every attendee who traveled to Washington, D.C., on behalf of our industry," Rigby added. "The true strength of our work lies in our collective voice. Seeing our members show up and engage directly with lawmakers is what turns advocacy into real, meaningful action that moves policy forward." AHPA extends its sincere thanks to the participating member companies whose representation on Capitol Hill ensured our industry's priorities were heard: AgroRefiner, American College of Healthcare Sciences, Apex Compliance, Herbalife, Holon Law Partners, Jiaherb, Molecular Health Technologies, Mountain Rose Herbs, Natural Relief, NOW Foods, NSF International, Nuherbs, Pharmavite, The Republic of Tea, RidgeCrest Herbals, Sabinsa, TCI Biotech, Traditional Medicinals, Unilever, and Verdure Sciences.

  • Thursday, July 23, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  AHPA honors Loren Israelsen with Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award

  July 21, 2026   Loren Israelsen (center) accepts the 2026 Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award from AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby and AHPA VP of Membership & Engagement Amber Bennett. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce Loren Israelsen, Founder & President of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), as the recipient of the 2026 Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award. The special presentation of the award follows the historic announcement of Loren's upcoming retirement and the sunsetting of UNPA at the end of the year.  The Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award was established in 2025 in honor of late, longtime AHPA President Michael McGuffin. The honor is intended to recognize individuals or organizations that embody Michael's spirit of “extraordinary service” to the herbal and natural products community. The inaugural award went to Edward Fletcher in recognition of his tireless generosity and heroic disaster relief efforts in support of the herbal community following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in 2024. “Extraordinary service” can be difficult to define but is unmistakable when seen, such as with Loren's legendary career. He was a founding board member of AHPA in 1982 and, as a primary architect of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, Loren's early legislative strategy and tenacity established the vital legal framework that safeguards consumer access to herbal products and dietary supplements today. Over several decades, his vision has permanently shaped the modern dietary supplement landscape. Throughout his career, Loren maintained a trusted connection to AHPA, characterized by a collaborative relationship with Michael McGuffin. Together, they championed alignment across trade organizations and united the industry behind robust quality standards. Loren continued that tradition in collaborating with AHPA and Michael's successor, President & CEO Graham Rigby, on tariffs, the placement of DSHEA disclaimers on dietary supplement labels, and other issues facing our industry. With the recent news of his retirement and the conclusion of an era for UNPA, AHPA and its Board of Trustees moved to honor Loren's lifetime of commitment, ensuring his legacy of collaboration and health freedom is celebrated in Michael's memory. “Receiving an award that bears Michael McGuffin's name is deeply meaningful,” said Israelsen. “Michael was not only a respected colleague but a trusted friend whose integrity, deep knowledge and unwavering commitment to this industry inspired those who had the privilege of working alongside him. Throughout our careers, we shared the belief that meaningful progress comes through thoughtful leadership and a commitment to serving something greater than ourselves. I am honored to receive this recognition and grateful to AHPA for celebrating the values that Michael embodied throughout his remarkable life.” “Michael believed that true service to this industry and to public health required looking beyond individual interests to protect the bigger picture, and Loren has spent his entire career exemplifying that ideal,” said Rigby. “Recognizing Loren with Michael's namesake award is not just an acknowledgment of his monumental career, but a celebration of an enduring dedication that elevated quality standards and shaped health freedom for us all.” This honor stands as a lasting tribute to Michael's legacy and a celebration of Loren's profound impact on the natural products community. AHPA is deeply privileged to present the 2026 Michael McGuffin Extraordinary Service Award to Loren Israelsen, celebrating a lifetime of leadership and an enduring commitment to the industry.

  • Tuesday, July 21, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA