April 23, 2026 Yesterday, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Sports & Active Nutrition Committee Chair Rob Wildman, PhD, RD, FISSN, served as the featured subject matter expert on protein at a Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus educational briefing in Washington, D.C. Dr. Wildman, who founded the International Protein Board and currently serves as Chief Science Officer for TCI Biotech, provided members of the caucus and their staff with a comprehensive overview of the role of protein in the diet, recent beneficial reforms within the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the evolving challenges facing protein products in the global marketplace. “As consumer demand continues to drive the expansion of protein in both the dietary supplement and conventional food sectors, it's vital that policymakers remain informed of the underlying science and the specific issues impacting these products,” said Dr. Wildman. “I welcomed the opportunity to represent AHPA and the broader industry in this important forum and extend my thanks to the caucus for having me.” The Dietary Supplement Caucus serves as a nonpartisan platform for members of Congress and their staff to engage with scientific experts, healthcare practitioners, and industry stakeholders. The caucus convenes educational briefings to gather up-to-date information on the dietary supplement sector, ensuring a foundation for balanced and informed policymaking.
Advocacy
AHPA advocates the U.S. Congress; state governments; FDA; FTC; USDA; FWS; NIH; NCCIH; U.S. Pharmacopeia and others for effective laws and regulations that promote the responsible commerce of herbal products.
News
AHPA informs members and the industry about news and issues through daily email alerts and a monthly newsletter. AHPA also promotes the benefits of herbs to mainstream and industry media as well as scientific journals.
Events
AHPA regularly produces in-person and online educational events featuring industry-leading experts discussing regulatory and technical issues that impact the herbal product industry.
Resource Library
AHPA provides guidance documents, policies, trade requirement, and reference materials to help members comply with the herbal industry laws and regulations.
Latest News
April 21, 2026 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has activated phase 1 of its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system, used to request refunds of IEEPA tariffs found unlawful by the Supreme Court earlier this year. During phase 1, the system will generally accept “CAPE declarations” for entries that have not been liquidated or are within 80 days of liquidation. Some entries, such as those subject to a drawback claim or covered by an open protest, are not included in phase 1 and will likely come online later. As previously reported, CAPE declarations must be made through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Declarations require only a list of entry numbers in a comma separated value (CSV) format. A specific template for use in providing a CAPE declaration is available from within the CAPE interface. Declarations must be submitted by the importer of record for the entries in question (or the broker who submitted them on the importer's behalf). Tariff refunds are anticipated within 60-90 days of declaration acceptance for most submissions. The AHPA Tariff Toolkit has been updated with links and documents from CBP explaining the details and context of the CAPE declaration process. AHPA will host a members only webinar on Thursday, April 23 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET to explain the CAPE declaration system, answer questions regarding IEEPA tariff refund availability and ongoing court activity, and summarize additional caveats and limitations. While a recording of the webinar will be made available to members after the event, the CAPE system and associated IEEPA refund procedures are subject to significant legal attention and potentially rapid change. AHPA will continue to update members as the IEEPA refund process expands.
April 1, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby will be a featured speaker at the first East Coast SoCal Dietary Supplement Consortium (SCDSC) Event on May 15, 2026. This inaugural East Coast gathering will take place at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) facility in Rockville, MD, with a virtual attendance option also available. Building on the success of the long-running Southern California consortium, this premier event brings together regulatory, quality, and compliance professionals in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At the event, Rigby will share an industry update with insights into the current regulatory landscape, highlighting key priorities and policy developments impacting the dietary supplement and herbal product industries. Darlene Almogela, Acting Deputy Office Director of FDA's Office of Human Food Central Inspectorate, will deliver the keynote. Additional presentations from FDA officials and industry experts will cover essential topics such as: State regulatory updates Qualifying and monitoring contract laboratories Supplier qualification processes Gummy manufacturing quality and safety best practices “I am pleased to participate in the first SCDSC East Coast Event and support the cross-country expansion of this valuable forum,” said Rigby. “The consortium facilitates essential dialogue between industry and regulators, and I look forward to engaging with this expert group as we work together to advance the quality and safety standards that underpin consumer trust.” The SCDSC event is scheduled for May 15, following the USP Dietary Supplements Stakeholder Forum on May 14. AHPA encourages members and industry colleagues with interest to register and attend.
March 30, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce completion of the Vitality Works matching challenge for the Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the AHPA community, the $100,000 matching pledge from Vitality Works has been fully met, significantly advancing the fund toward its $1 million endowment goal. The Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund was established to honor the legacy of herbal champion and longtime AHPA President Michael McGuffin and will provide lasting financial support for critical AHPA initiatives, including advocacy, education, and research benefiting the herbal products industry. The fund is operated and managed by the AHPA ERB Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by McGuffin in 1997 and dedicated to advancing botanical education and research. “We are deeply grateful to Mitch Coven, Vitality Works, and every donor who stepped up to meet this challenge,” said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. “Support for the endowment fund will help to ensure that Michael's legacy of excellence and stewardship continues to guide the herbal community for generations to come.” With the completion of this matching milestone, AHPA is issuing a final call for the Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund Founders' Circle. Individuals and organizations who donate or pledge $1,000 or more by March 31, 2026, will be inducted into this founding group — a distinction that recognizes those who have made a timely and substantial commitment to preserving Michael's enduring legacy. For more information and to donate today, visit the Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund online.
Events
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28Apr
AHPA Workshop - Strengthening Dietary Supplement Claims: Evidence, Expectations & Enforcement
4/28/2026 to 4/29/2026 PDT
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22Jul
AHPA Day on the Hill
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EDT
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15Sep
AHPA Botanical Congress 2026
9/15/2026 to 9/16/2026 PDT
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