Meet the American Herbal Products Association
The National Trade Association and Voice of the Herbal Products Industry
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the only national trade association that is focused primarily on herbs and herbal products. All of AHPA’s activities are focused on its mission, to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products, and are undertaken to maintain and improve market opportunities for companies that sell herbs, herbal products and other health-related products, and to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy informed access to a wide choice of goods.
Founded in 1982, AHPA is the voice of the herbal products industry and the recognized leader in representing the botanical trade. AHPA members are the finest growers, processors, manufacturers and marketers of herbal products. AHPA represents the industry on many levels. We are in active communication with key allies — as well as critics — in the US Congress, and we communicate regularly with the many federal regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over this industry, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, the US Department of Agriculture, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and others.
AHPA is also involved with key scientists and organizations that conduct research on herbs, and maintains an active role with the various standards-setting organizations involved in the herbal trade. We also pay close attention to the media, and are in constant communication with reporters and publishers in our quest to improve the quality of information about herbs.
If your company grows herbs, or if you manufacture or process herbal ingredients or market herbal products, you should be an AHPA Active member! If you provide a service to this trade, please consider a role as an Associate member. While you invest in growing your business, let AHPA represent those interests that are important to the entire trade, as we have done so successfully for more than 20 years.
To learn more about AHPA’s most recent activities on behalf of the herbal products industry, visit the AHPA News Room — and welcome to AHPA!
AHPA’s key areas of activity:
Representation
Federal Agencies/Offices — AHPA actively engages with the various federal agencies and offices that generate and influence policies for the regulation of herbal products. The main agencies/offices include: Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Commerce, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Institutes of Health (including the National Commission for Complementary & Alternative Medicine and the Office of Dietary Supplements), and more…
US Congress — AHPA staff has developed strong working relationships members of US Congress, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and on both sides of the partisan aisle. AHPA maintains a professional lobbyist to ensure that AHPA is at the table as the key issues are discussed and debated, and shaped into new legislation.
State and Local Government — AHPA monitors the activities of state and local governments and represents the herbal products industry as issues arise that affect the manufacture and sale of herbal products.
Scientific — AHPA’s Chief Science Officer is actively involved in the most well regarded scientific organizations for herbs, including the US Pharmacopeia, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, AOAC International, NSF International, and various offices of the National Institutes of Health, among others. In addition, AHPA is a strong presence at national and international scientific meetings on herbal research. AHPA’s routine involvement in these activities provides informed guidance in the establishment of natural product standards, to ensure that the needs of industry are well understood and are met.
Crisis Management
When issues arise that may negatively affect either an individual company or a group of members, AHPA is quick to rally its resources and lead the way to a positive and economically sound resolution. AHPA has experience in the development and execution of efficient strategies to deal with business or scientific issues, and invites its members to call with any problems that they may encounter in their day-to-day operations.
Self-Regulation (click on the links to view the documents)
AHPA’s Code of Ethics — AHPA members agree to comply with the Association’s Code of Ethics & Business Practices, which contains trade recommendations adopted by the association. Revised on an ongoing basis, as needed, AHPA’s trade recommendations are created and codified when the industry determines that policies beyond those mandated by federal laws serve the common interest of the industry and our consumers. When we as an industry take greater responsibility by self-regulation, we set a new industry standard and take better control of our own destiny.
AHPA Guidance Policies — AHPA develops guidance policies to advance our Mission to promote responsible commerce in herbal products. These policies address a variety of labeling and manufacturing issues and reflect the consensus of AHPA’s members and its Board of Trustees. Unlike AHPA’s trade recommendations, compliance with AHPA’s guidance policies is not a condition of membership. Nevertheless, AHPA encourages its members and non-member companies to adopt each of these policies in the interest of establishing consistent and informed trade practices.
AHPA Committees — AHPA’s committee meetings allow members to exchange information about the critical issues that face all levels of botanical manufacturing. In addition, AHPA members are at the forefront of creating new guidelines that advance responsible trade. Most of AHPA’s policies and resources are generated within AHPA’s committees. AHPA members may join any or all of the following active committees: Analytical Laboratories, Animal Products, Ayurvedic Herbal Products, Botanical Raw Materials, Chinese Herbal Products, Education, Finance & Governance, Government Relations, Hoodia gordonii, International, Public Relations, Small Business, Standards, and Strategic Planning.
Communication
Spokespersons — AHPA’s executive staff act as spokespersons for the herbal products industry by maintaining access to journalists from the national and industry media. This spokesperson role enables AHPA to publicize the benefits of herbal products and to set the record straight on the many inaccuracies that are published about herbs. AHPA has been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, National Public Radio (NPR), Associated Press, Reuters, Los Angles Times, Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report, and more.
Letters-to-Editors — AHPA’s continually monitors the media and numerous scientific journals to evaluate their representations of herbal products. AHPA writes letters-to-the-editor when needed to correct the erroneous information so often presented on herbal products. AHPA’s letters have appeared in many of the publications listed above and also in Journal of the American Medical Association and New England Journal of Medicine.
Public Relations — AHPA, along with other key industry organizations, is a founding member of the Dietary Supplements Education Alliance (DSEA), whose mission it is to publicize the benefits of herbal and other dietary supplements through education. Joining with other organizations makes it possible for industry to have a continuous PR campaign for herbal supplements and all other dietary supplements. Read more about DSEA’s activities to educate consumers and members of Congress online at http://www.supplementinfo.org/.
Keeping You Informed — AHPA’s regular AHPA Update emails and our monthly newsletter, The AHPA Report, keep AHPA members informed as soon as events occur that may have a bearing on their business. Whether from legal and regulatory arenas or the world of scientific research, AHPA keeps its members informed.
Education
Educational Seminars — AHPA regularly produces educational tele-seminars where leading experts make informative presentations on the issues related to running a successful herbal business. Previous tele-seminars addressed:
- developing an in-house adverse event report management system,
- ensuring ingredient cleanliness,
- how to manage FDA site inspections,
- complying with new food allergen labeling requirements,
- substantiating product claims,
- filing New Dietary Ingredient notifications with FDA.
The materials from these seminars are available for purchase in the AHPA Bookstore.
Resource Documents and “Tools You Can Use” — AHPA continues to produce resource documents, tools and publications to help AHPA members to comply with the sometimes labyrinthine regulations, and to help companies to raise the bar in their manufacture of herbal products. These documents are available in the AHPA Bookstore.
AHPA is the only trade association devoted primarily to herbal issues. Submit the membership application to begin your membership today! If you need more information, please contact Devon Powell at 301-588-1171, x102.