Consume Your Political News Frequently--and Calmly

Navigating and understanding the complex space of supplement regulations is no easy task. While those who have experienced the industry grow from the beginnings of DSHEA understand the current system is ever evolving. It takes experienceand sometimes an advanced law degree)--to understand the finer points of the alphabet soup of GMP, NDI, FSMA and WXYZ, and how they affect the industry today and in the future.

How do you get up to speed?  

1. Read and learn. Read articles, press releases and opinions put into the public realm by FDA and trade groups like AHPA, UNPA and ABC. This information is meant to be read by everyone involved in the natural products industry. Read trade publications like INSIDER. Read about the history of adulteration in consumer products and the regulation of health products in the US. Read what opposing views have to say as well in the mainstream media and medical journals. Understand how your business, and people's safety and health choices, can be affected by changes in the regulatory climate. Every side makes legitimate points; some are just louder and/or more legitimate than others.  

2. Keep calm. In the sensationalist era of Twitter feeds and 24-hour news, no one piece of news will end the world, save a giant asteroid plummeting to Earth. Chicken Little eventually learned that real and meaningful change comes about slowly and deliberately. One "breaking" news piece or pending regulation does not change the publics need for accessible, affordable healthcare options. But it is the general belief, snowballing science, and tangible human experience that supplements are capable of improving lives that hold the power. In the end, the impressive safety record relative to foods and drugs, in addition to strong consumer interest and belief in the power of supplements to change lives, that will dictate the nature and effectiveness of regulations.  

3. Get involved. Nature abhors a vacuum, and in an environment of diverse views, the loudest cries tend to get the most attention. We are fortunate to have groups like USP, AOAC, CRN, AHPA, UNPA and media outlets like Virgo to spearhead the standards-setting communications efforts and help to improve industry standards. The key element is the involvement of caring, conscientious people, which is necessary to make the supplement industry something we can really be proud of in 50 or 100 years, and even sooner.  In fact, the long-term sustainability of the industry depends on improving standards, and these improvements come as a direct result of strong yet smart regulations. All sides of the discussion need to be intimately involved in the movement, so that we can see the grand vision materialize.