Latest News

• 

  IADSA Newsflash for August 2022

  AHPA is an active member of IADSA, an association focused on the globalization of food supplement markets and regulatory challenges. AHPA distributes the IADSA Newsflash as a member benefit. This issue covers:   The ASEAN Health Supplements Agreement is scheduled to be signed in September by the ASEAN Economic Ministers. In India, dosage forms of health supplements are now exempt from some labeling requirements when macronutrient energy sources are present at insignificant amounts. Hong Kong is considering a proposal which would make cannabidiol (CBD) illegal due to the presence of small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The European Commission issued a final proposal restricting the use of green tea catechins – green tea products should have a warning and intake of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) should not exceed 800 mg a day. The European Commission is clarifying the definition of the term “nanomaterial.” The National Food Safety Agency of France has issued a warning about use of high doses of turmeric supplements following recent adverse event reports of liver toxicity. Lithuania is setting THC limits for supplement products derived from hemp. A list of health claims permitted for supplements in Turkey is under public consultation. In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has published new guidance on the use of testimonials and endorsements in advertising. Argentina introduced a revised list of permitted botanicals during a recent modification of its Food Code.

  • Tuesday, August 9, 2022
  • | Posted by AHPA
• 

  Principal investigator of AHPA-ERB Foundation-funded goldenseal harvest study presents research

  August 4, 2022 Katie Commender, Agroforestry Program Director at Appalachian Sustainable Development, recently presented on the Goldenseal Sustainable Harvest Study funded by the AHPA Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA-ERB Foundation) at two international conferences. As principal investigator of the project, Commender delivered her presentation entitled "Conservation of at-risk medicinal forest herbs: sustainable harvest and propagation of goldenseal in the Appalachian Mountains” at the Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado on July 19 and again at the World Congress on Agroforestry in Québec City in Québec, Canada on August 1. “With thousands of pounds of goldenseal required by herbal products companies annually to meet growing demand, there is a critical need for sustainable sourcing,” explained Commender in her presentation abstract. “Results from this project will be used to better understand population recovery and sustainable harvest levels relative to harvest intensity, initial plant size, population density, and season of harvest, and to assess rhizome propagation as a sustainable management practice for goldenseal and other medicinal forest herbs.” Funding for this crucial research on goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is made possible by the AHPA-ERB Foundation and the generous contributions of the following donors committed to supporting the long-term viability of the species: Aveda Duncan's Botanical Products Gaia Herbs Herb Pharm Herbalist & Alchemist Horst Mueggenburg Stiftung (Horst Mueggenburg Foundation) Mountain Rose Herbs Mueggenburg Farms Native Botanicals Ohio River Ginseng The Vitamin Shoppe Vitality Works Foundation Yellow Emperor To learn more about the goldenseal study and to donate in support of the project, please visit the AHPA-ERB Foundation online.

  • Thursday, August 4, 2022
  • | Posted by AHPA
• 

  AHPA’s 40 Herbs We Love – No. 18: Oregon Grape (with love from Mountain Rose Herbs)

  August 4, 2022 AHPA's 40th anniversary celebrations continue with our showcase of the eighteenth of many beloved herbs at the heart of our robust industry and vibrant community. No. 18: Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium) It is perhaps not surprising that, as Oregonian herbalists, we love Oregon grape. Here in the Pacific Northwest, where Berberis aquifolium grows in abundance, our affinity for this bushy, flowering perennial with its shiny, holly-like leaves and yellow roots full of berberine runs deep. Shade tolerant, drought-tolerant Oregon grape is the epitome of resilience, and is a profoundly generous plant in what it gives: supporting human wellness and healing even as it nourishes birds and other wildlife with its berries and provides cover for the smallest of creatures in its greenery. From an herbal perspective, Oregon grape is a particularly excellent substitute for goldenseal because of its antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. It is no wonder that this age-old botanical has earned our devotion, as well as its honorary title as Oregon's State Flower. Share the Love Do you want to celebrate an herb you love with AHPA's 40 Herbs We Love campaign for AHPA's 40th anniversary? Contact Amber Bennett to learn more about sponsoring your favorite herb! More Ways to Celebrate In addition to AHPA's 40 Herbs We Love, there are more fun and exciting ways to get involved with AHPA's 40th anniversary celebration. You can: Share your photos from the 80s! Pay homage to the 1980s (the decade AHPA was founded) by submitting photos of yourself and/or friends and colleagues in the herbal industry. The photos will be shared in the AHPA Report and on social media for members and followers to guess who is in the photo! Author a 40th anniversary letter or guest article for the AHPA Report! Share a favorite memory or lesson learned, comment on a historical or present issue, or address AHPA members and friends of the herbal and natural products industry with your own 40th anniversary message in the monthly AHPA Report. Join us for the 40th anniversary Founders Series fireside chats! Gather (virtually) with fellow AHPA founders and friends for a pre-recorded fireside chat to discuss topics celebrating AHPA history, achievements, and what sets us apart in the herbal community. Videos will be available to watch on-demand and shared in AHPA Updates, the AHPA Report, and on social media. Click here to download more information on all the ways you can join us to celebrate 40 years of AHPA, and contact Melissa Do with any questions and to get started.

  • Thursday, August 4, 2022
  • | Posted by AHPA
• 

  AHPA’s 40 Herbs We Love – No. 17: Valerian Root (with love from Gaia Herbs)

  July 26, 2022 AHPA's 40th anniversary celebrations continue with our showcase of the seventeenth of many beloved herbs at the heart of our robust industry and vibrant community. No. 17: Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) For some people, falling asleep is sometimes the most challenging part of the sleep cycle. With a long traditional use of promoting a sense of relaxation, valerian root is a calming herb that supports a natural transition to sleep so you can enjoy a good night of rest. Gaia Herbs valerian root extract is made from valerian grown on Gaia's own certified organic farm. Delivering 1.8 mg of valerianic acid derivatives per serving, this extract is purity-tested, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and screened for pesticides and heavy metals with results available online via meetyourherbs.com, the world's first herb traceability platform. Use code SUMMER20 for 20% off your purchase at gaiaherbs.com. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Share the Love Do you want to celebrate an herb you love with AHPA's 40 Herbs We Love campaign for AHPA's 40th anniversary? Contact Amber Bennett to learn more about sponsoring your favorite herb! More Ways to Celebrate In addition to AHPA's 40 Herbs We Love, there are more fun and exciting ways to get involved with AHPA's 40th anniversary celebration. You can: Share your photos from the 80s! Pay homage to the 1980s (the decade AHPA was founded) by submitting photos of yourself and/or friends and colleagues in the herbal industry. The photos will be shared in the AHPA Report and on social media for members and followers to guess who is in the photo! Author a 40th anniversary letter or guest article for the AHPA Report! Share a favorite memory or lesson learned, comment on a historical or present issue, or address AHPA members and friends of the herbal and natural products industry with your own 40th anniversary message in the monthly AHPA Report. Join us for the 40th anniversary Founders Series fireside chats! Gather (virtually) with fellow AHPA founders and friends for a pre-recorded fireside chat to discuss topics celebrating AHPA history, achievements, and what sets us apart in the herbal community. Videos will be available to watch on-demand and shared in AHPA Updates, the AHPA Report, and on social media. Click here to download more information on all the ways you can join us to celebrate 40 years of AHPA, and contact Melissa Do with any questions and to get started.

  • Tuesday, July 26, 2022
  • | Posted by AHPA
• 

  FDA to host webinar on food facility registration, UFI requirements

  Biennial required registration period begins Oct 1, ends Dec 31 July 25, 2022 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will present a webinar to discuss how to comply with the food facility registration requirement on Thursday, August 11 at 10am PT/1pm ET. U.S. and foreign human and animal food facilities that are required to register with the FDA must renew their registration between October 1 and December 31, 2022. Registration and access information for the webinar is available here. This year's registration period marks the end of FDA enforcement discretion on the requirement that registering facilities must obtain and provide a unique facility identifier (UFI). FDA requires the use of Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering system (DUNS) numbers for this purpose. Details of facility registration, the process for obtaining a DUNS number, and the UFI requirement will all be covered in the August 11 webinar. Details on compliance with the UFI requirement are also available in an FDA guidance on the subject.  Companies looking to participate in the webinar can register at this address.

  • Monday, July 25, 2022
  • | Posted by AHPA