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  California passes muscle/weight dietary supplement age restriction law

  September 29, 2026 The Governor of California has signed Assembly Bill 2030, an age restriction bill targeting a loosely defined category of active nutrition dietary supplements. Under the new law, dietary supplements “labeled, marketed, or otherwise represented” for weight loss or musclebuilding cannot be sold to those under 18 beginning January 1, 2027. Delivery sellers of covered products must either (i) age-verify purchasers via one or more third-party databases regularly used for age and identity verification purposes or (ii) ship covered products to the consumer using a delivery method requiring an adult to sign for the shipment and present government-issued photo identification demonstrating that the recipient is 18 or over. Retail sellers must perform a similar ID check. Like a similar 2024 New York law, AB 2030 lacks a clear scope of coverage, with language that suggests retail placement, ingredients, or third-party statements could subject a product to age restrictions. Unlike the New York law, no exception exists in AB 2030 for protein products, and enforcement action may be taken by a wide range of public attorneys. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has held a longstanding position of opposition to state-level, category-specific restriction bills, and AHPA coordinates industry responses to age restriction bills like AB 2030 through the Dietary Supplement Access Coalition. “Lacking any scientific justification, AB 2030 casts a shadow over safe, beneficial products,” said AHPA Vice President of Regulatory & Government Affairs Robert Marriott. “AHPA and the aligned trade will consider all available legislative, administrative, and legal options to address the many problems this law creates.”

  • Tuesday, September 29, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  AHPA launches the “AHPA Atlas,” combining four industry-leading resources into one digital platform

  September 22, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is proud to announce the launch of the AHPA Atlas, an integrated, searchable digital platform that brings together AHPA's most trusted, industry-leading references into one centralized resource. The AHPA Atlas combines four of AHPA's core, authoritative publications and databases: Herbs of Commerce Botanical Safety Handbook New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) Database Botanical Identity (ID) References Compendium Designed for dietary supplement manufacturers, botanical researchers, regulatory professionals, and companies across the herbal supply chain, the AHPA Atlas provides streamlined digital access to critical nomenclature, safety data, regulatory insights, and analytical identification tools. "For decades, AHPA has established the benchmark for responsible trade and botanical self-regulation through our industry-leading resources," said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. "The AHPA Atlas represents a massive leap forward, equipping our members and the broader herbal community with an advanced, searchable digital platform that places decades of essential safety and regulatory knowledge directly at their fingertips." Key features Nomenclature & labeling guidance: Lookup authoritative common names, botanical synonyms, and traditional names from Herbs of Commerce to ensure accurate and compliant product labeling. Comprehensive safety & regulatory insights: Consult expert-reviewed safety profiles from the Botanical Safety Handbook and search FDA NDI notification records. Analytical testing & identification tools: Explore curated physical characteristics, organoleptic descriptions, and testing methodologies via the Botanical ID References Compendium. Unified cross-platform searchability: Cross-reference botanical ingredients instantly across all four foundational AHPA resources without switching between resources. "Consider this just the beginning for the AHPA Atlas," added Rigby. "We are actively expanding the platform, adding new content, features, and functionality as we go to ensure it serves as the definitive digital tool for the industry." Full access to the AHPA Atlas is included as a benefit of AHPA membership. Members can log in and explore the new platform by visiting ahpa.org/atlas. 

  • Tuesday, September 22, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  AHPA welcomes introduction of Dietary Supplement Innovation Act

  Newly introduced legislation modernizes drug preclusion framework to foster innovation and protect consumer access September 10, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) welcomes the introduction of the Dietary Supplement Innovation Act by Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). This critical legislation clarifies and modernizes the drug preclusion provision of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), establishing greater regulatory certainty while preserving consumer access to safe dietary supplement ingredients. Ambiguity surrounding the interaction between drug development and dietary supplements has long created unnecessary impediments to industry innovation. This new legislation addresses these challenges by clarifying when drug preclusion applies, ensuring that discontinued or inactive drug development programs do not permanently block ingredients from the dietary supplement market. It also ensures that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can never again attempt to use the provision to remove ingredients that existed in the dietary supplement market prior to DSHEA's enactment. Furthermore, the bill strikes an appropriate balance between protecting pharmaceutical research incentives and allowing consumer access to new dietary supplements, avoiding costly disputes while providing FDA a predictable pathway to resolve issues through an administrative order when appropriate. “Botanical dietary supplement innovation depends on clearly defined pathways that allow safe herbs and natural products to reach consumers,” said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. “Representative Harshbarger's legislation would help restore the balance Congress intended under DSHEA and better ensure that drug development does not unnecessarily foreclose dietary supplement innovation. AHPA applauds Representative Harshbarger for her leadership and urges Congress to advance this important legislation as a key plank of modernizing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's robust dietary supplement provisions.” Alongside the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), AHPA supports this legislation and will continue working closely with congressional leaders, regulatory agencies, and industry partners to advance a modern, science-based regulatory framework that fosters innovation, provides regulatory certainty, and preserves consumer access to trusted products.

  • Thursday, September 10, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  Dietary Supplement Trades Applaud Legislation to Modernize Drug Preclusion Framework

  September 10, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), and Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) welcome today's introduction of the Dietary Supplement Innovation Act, by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) to clarify and modernize the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act's (DSHEA's) drug preclusion provision, providing greater regulatory certainty while preserving consumer access to safe dietary supplement ingredients. “Ambiguous FDA standards can leave manufacturers without guidance and consumers guessing about which products are available,” said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. “For decades, this broken drug preclusion process has allowed Washington bureaucrats to threaten lawful dietary supplements that have safely been purchased over the counter for years, stifling innovation and denying Americans access to products they already trust. My bill delivers the regulatory certainty manufacturers need to innovate and invest with confidence, while establishing transparency and predictability within the drug preclusion framework and preserving consumer access to dietary supplements.” “Botanical dietary supplement innovation depends on clearly defined pathways that allow safe herbs and natural products to reach consumers,” said AHPA President and CEO Graham Rigby. “Representative Harshbarger's legislation would help restore the balance Congress intended under DSHEA and better ensure that drug development does not unnecessarily foreclose legitimate dietary supplement innovation. AHPA applauds Representative Harshbarger for her leadership and urges Congress to advance this important legislation as a key plank of modernizing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's robust dietary supplement provisions.” "We applaud Representative Harshbarger for introducing this important legislation, which modernizes an outdated provision of law, provides much-needed regulatory certainty, and helps ensure consumer access keeps pace with innovation," said CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville.  "Representative Harshbarger has introduced exactly the kind of thoughtful, balanced legislation this issue has needed for years," said Steve Mister, President and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition. "This bill doesn't weaken FDA or undermine pharmaceutical innovation. Instead, it restores the balance Congress intended when it enacted DSHEA by creating transparent, predictable rules that allow both industries to innovate while protecting consumer access to safe dietary supplements. We commend Representative Harshbarger for her leadership and strongly urge Congress to advance this legislation."  The legislation would: Preserve access to ingredients that were marketed in foods or dietary supplements prior to Oct. 15, 1994. Clarify when drug preclusion applies, so ingredients involved in discontinued or inactive drug development programs are not blocked from the dietary supplement market forever. Provide greater regulatory predictability for manufacturers, researchers, and consumers. Help ensure that innovative ingredients are not unnecessarily excluded from the dietary supplement marketplace when no approved drug reaches the market. Strike an appropriate balance between protecting pharmaceutical research and allowing consumer access to new dietary supplements. Reduce costly and resource-intensive disputes by providing clearer rules regarding when drug preclusion applies. Streamline the pathway for FDA to allow both dietary supplements and drugs with the same ingredient at FDA's discretion under predictable rules and procedures. Recent consumer research found strong voter support for updating dietary supplement regulations and overwhelming agreement that dietary supplements positively impact health and wellness. The research also found broad support for reforms that strengthen innovation while maintaining consumer protections. The associations look forward to working with policymakers and stakeholders to advance a modern, science-based regulatory framework that fosters innovation, provides greater regulatory certainty, and preserves access to products that consumers trust.   ###   About American Herbal Products Association Founded in 1982, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the national trade association and voice of the herbal products industry, representing growers, processors, manufacturers, and marketers of herbs and herbal products — including foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and non-prescription drugs — as well as companies providing expert services to the trade. AHPA champions the responsible and sustainable commerce of safe, high-quality herbal goods to ensure informed consumer access. Learn more at ahpa.org.   About Consumer Healthcare Products Association The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), founded in 1881, is the national trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of consumer healthcare products, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, dietary supplements, and consumer medical devices. CHPA is committed to empowering self-care by ensuring that Americans have access to products they can count on to be reliable, affordable, and convenient, while also delivering new and better ways to get and stay healthy. Visit www.chpa.org.   About Council for Responsible Nutrition The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973 and based in Washington, D.C., is the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement and functional food industry. Bringing together manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and service providers, CRN unites its member companies around a shared commitment to science, transparency, and responsible business practices—advancing a strong, credible marketplace that supports consumer health and industry growth. In an increasingly complex regulatory and media environment, CRN serves as the industry's front line—shaping science-based policy, defending market access, and countering misinformation. Through strategic advocacy, self-regulatory leadership, voluntary guidelines, and evidence-based communications, CRN ensures that responsible companies are recognized, protected, and positioned to innovate and compete. Learn more at crnusa.org and follow @CRN_Supplements on X and LinkedIn.

  • Thursday, September 10, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA