FDA, industry trade groups to consider DSHEA at 30 at SupplySide West

At SupplySide West in Las Vegas in October, the industry will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

During an education and networking session on Oct. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., we’ll hear from representatives of six trade groups on the successes and failures of the law. More importantly, they’ll tackle the subject, “After 30 years of DSHEA, the question is: What now?”

We can’t have a meaningful dialogue about DSHEA without hearing from the government body principally responsible for regulating dietary supplements.

Fortunately, the director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Dietary Supplement Programs — Cara Welch, Ph.D. — will be joining the panel. Dr. Welch has recently attended several public events discussing the need for regulatory modernization, and I expect more of the same at SupplySide West.

In this education session, the various trade groups will discuss their missions and members as well as their views on DSHEA and how to move the industry forward. Dr. Welch also will present on FDA’s work, priorities and perspectives on the law.

The panel’s moderator, Jon Benninger, vice president and market leader at Informa Markets, will then engage in a Q&A with Welch and representatives from the six industry groups: the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), Natural Products Association (NPA), Organic & Natural Health Association (ONHA) and United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA).

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DSHEA “has been the law of the land for 30 years, defining what dietary supplements are and how they should be made, and laying the foundation for the modern supplement market,” Benninger told me. “In this session, I want to explore the path forward from here to ensure that people have access to high-quality, safe, science-backed supplements that can help them live healthier lives.”

I expect a lively discourse moderated by Benninger, and yes, a respectful but vigorous debate about regulatory modernization.

“The history of DSHEA is really 1,000 years old, and those who understand what that means will be the ones who will defend and build on this remarkable legislation,” UNPA President Loren Israelsen said. “New battles are coming, and it’s not with the FDA. Come and be a part of the new conversation about the present and future of DSHEA. To all the young and rising stars among us, it is your turn now. It will be tech against tech, the people against the machine. Think I’m exaggerating? Join us and find out.”

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During this session, we’ll also watch a documentary on DSHEA produced by AHPA — and a special guest is expected to join us in person.

The last hour of the event will be devoted to a happy hour and networking session. Finally, we’ll also be celebrating DSHEA on Oct. 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the SupplySide Networking Hub, where we’ll meet an all-star cast of industry stalwarts, passionate advocates and inspiring new voices.

We look forward to seeing you soon.