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Archive March 2025
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AHPA adopts guidance policy on kratom and synthesized kratom alkaloids
March 31, 2025
The AHPA board has adopted a new guidance policy to clarify the distinction between products consisting of the botanical kratom and synthetic kratom alkaloids. This policy notes that some "kratom" products in the marketplace appear to consist primarily of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), and lack other alkaloids commonly found in plant-derived kratom products. While 7-OH may be formed from mitragynine oxidation and can be found in very low levels in dried, processed kratom leaf, it is not present at sufficiently high concentrations to be produced in commercially viable form.
The new policy strongly discourages the marketing of any product intended for consumption by any route that consists of or contains synthesized 7-OH or other synthesized kratom alkaloids. This policy also strongly discourages labeling or marketing such products as “kratom." AHPA has since 1999 held a trade requirement on the disclosure of added constituents which, in relevant part, requires the separate identification of added constituents in bulk botanical raw materials or finished products.
AHPA releases latest tonnage survey of North American botanicals
March 25, 2025
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has published its latest Tonnage Surveys of Select Botanicals Produced in North America, providing critical data on the production and harvest trends of key botanicals from 2018–2023.
Since 1997, AHPA has conducted these surveys to quantify the harvest of specific North American botanical raw materials, offering valuable insight into industry trends, sustainability, and market dynamics. Plant species for the survey were initially selected for inclusion based on their use in herbal products and their status as North American native species known to be wild harvested for at least some part of their market.
In 2021–2023, the survey was expanded to include additional botanical species that are predominantly non-North American native herbs known to be commercially cultivated in the U.S. The most recent survey includes data collected from respondents reporting on a total of 126 botanical commodities representing 113 different plant species, with a focus on wild-harvested and cultivated materials. Additionally, total tonnage is now reported in dried weight only, including fresh weight conversions.
“We are deeply grateful for the continued contributions of our survey respondents over the years,” said Holly Chittum, MS, AHPA Project Scientist. “Their ongoing commitment, along with the expertise of our reviewers and our dedication to rigorous best practices in data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensures this survey remains a trusted and invaluable resource for understanding U.S. botanical consumption trends.”
Chittum prepared the tonnage survey in collaboration with Edward Fletcher, Chair of AHPA's Botanical Raw Materials Committee; Steven Dentali, PhD, Board Member of the AHPA ERB Foundation; and Holly E. Johnson, PhD, AHPA's Chief Science Officer.
Key findings from the 2018–2023 survey include:
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New data collected for U.S. cultivated materials shows the most significant values for aerial parts of catnip, peppermint, spearmint, rosemary, skullcap, and Echinacea purpurea root and aerial parts.
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The most significant values of cultivated certified organic harvests were reported for aerial parts of skullcap, peppermint, spearmint, and catnip, and Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia root and aerial parts.
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Highest volumes for wild harvested materials continue to include slippery elm bark, black walnut hulls, cascara sagrada bark, black cohosh root, goldenseal root, and black cherry bark.
AHPA’s ongoing commitment to tracking botanical production supports the industry’s sustainability efforts and provides a key snapshot of raw materials trade that serves as a valuable dataset for research, informs best practices for responsible sourcing, and provides vital insight to stakeholders and decision-makers. The latest tonnage survey and all previous surveys are available on the AHPA website.
For questions or more information about AHPA's tonnage surveys, please contact Holly Chittum at hchittum@ahpa.org.
IADSA Newsflash for March 2025
March 21, 2025
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 This issue covers:
- Japan has maintained it approval of Red No. 3, which was recently banned in the U.S. due to health concerns.
- South Korea has issued updates to several functional food ingredients to add precautionary statements.
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has declared that the safety of monacolins from red yeast rice cannot be established at any level. This is likely to lead to the prohibition on the use of red yeast rice in food supplements in Europe under the Article 8 procedures.
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) released a paper on the use of EU herbal medicine monographs to support the informed classification decisions as to whether a botanical can qualify as a traditional herbal medicinal product.
- The European Commission (EC) has appealed the European General Court decision regarding the classification of Aloe spp. preparations under Part A of Annex III, which essentially banned them.
- The Danish Food Authority advised that several supplements sold through a TikTok profile contained dangerous ingredients and should be disposed of by consumers.
- The French agency for food safety has issued a warning against consumption of food supplements containing Garcinia cambogia.
- The Dutch government is proposing regulations that would ban ashwagandha and some other botanicals based on a March 2024 assessment.
- The United Kingdom (UK) has released an updated version of its nutrition and health claims register.
- The UK Food Standards Agency has deemed CBD isolate safe for use in foods and food supplements up to 10 mg per day with certain labeling restrictions.
- The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration has introduced quality guidelines for probiotic products.
2025 AHPA Awards recognize industry leaders and innovators
March 11, 2025
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce the outstanding recipients of the 2025 AHPA Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the continued success of the herbal product and dietary supplement industries.
2025 AHPA Award Winners
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Herbal Hero Award: Kristina Tucker
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Herbal Industry Leadership Award: Nammex
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Herbal Insight Award: Rosemary Gladstar
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Herbal Diversity & Inclusion Award: Radicle Science
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Environmental Impact Award: One Step Closer
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Visionary Award: Dr. Muhammed Majeed (1948-2024)
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Herbal Pioneer Award: Caroline MacDougall
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Service to Herbal Knowledge Award: Herbs of Commerce, 3rd ed., Expert Advisory Council (David Bunting, Mitch Coven, Daniel Gagnon, Wilson Lau, Roy Upton, David Winston, Steven Yeager) & Editors (Wendy Applequist, Holly Johnson, Michael McGuffin [1951-2025], Merle Zimmermann)
The AHPA Awards were presented during the AHPA Annual Member Meeting on March 4 at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA.
This year’s honorees exemplify the dedication, innovation, and leadership that drive the industry forward. Their achievements reflect a commitment to advancing herbal knowledge, sustainability, and industry best practices, strengthening AHPA and the broader community.
AHPA Herbal Hero Award: Kristina Tucker
With over two decades of service to The Republic of Tea, Kristina Tucker has been instrumental in shaping the innovative tea company’s communications, public relations, and philanthropic efforts. As Minister of Commerce and Enlightenment (Vice President of Sales and Communications), she educates consumers on the power of tea and herbs, aligning with AHPA's mission which she has heroically stewarded in her additional roles as Chair of AHPA’s Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of AHPA’s Tea & Infusion Products Committee.
“I am profoundly grateful for this incredible community and our shared dedication to harnessing the power of herbs to enrich lives. Being honored with the AHPA Herbal Hero Award is truly humbling because, to me, the real heroes are all who dedicate themselves to this industry and champion the meaningful impact herbs can have on personal health and wellness. This recognition is a testament to the passion and commitment of AHPA members, its hardworking staff, and my colleagues at The Republic of Tea, who have given me the opportunity to serve both you and the precious world of herbs.”
–Kristina Tucker, Minister of Commerce and Enlightenment of The Republic of Tea
AHPA Herbal Industry Leadership Award: Nammex
Since 1989, Nammex has pioneered the development and manufacture of mushroom extracts for the health and wellness industry. Through its commitment to quality and transparency championed by founder Jeff Chilton, Nammex has led the way in advocating for best practices in producing, labeling, and marketing mushroom products, which supports all companies in this growing category. Nammex is now run by Jeff’s sons Skye (pictured with the award, having accepted on behalf of Nammex) and Adam and industry veteran Bill Chioffi.
“As a long-time member and supporter of AHPA, this is a true honor and very special acknowledgement which we sincerely appreciate. The AHPA Industry Leadership Award ‘recognizes a company that sets an example of outstanding business practices or an organization that works to move the industry forward above and beyond normal business practices,’ an approach which we at Nammex believe ultimately benefits everyone, from suppliers through to consumers. Since our inception over 30 years ago, Nammex has been dedicated to producing genuine mushroom products backed by analysis of important beneficial compounds and elimination of all carriers and adulterants. We pride ourselves in setting industry standards for fungal products and truly appreciate the supportive role that AHPA has served in our quality assurance initiative. Thank you for this acknowledgement that our efforts on behalf of the fungi industry are valued.”
–Jeff Chilton, President & Founder of Nammex
AHPA Herbal Insight Award: Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary Gladstar – herbalist, teacher, author, and co-founder of Traditional Medicinals – is widely recognized as the godmother of modern herbalism. She has written numerous influential books, created a widely acclaimed home study course known as “The Science & Art of Herbalism,” and founded the California School of Herbal Studies and United Plant Savers. Her teas, teachings, writings, and lifelong commitment to herbal education and conservation have shaped the herbal products industry and continue to inspire future generations of herb lovers and leaders.
In her acceptance of the award, Rosemary noted how honored and humbled she is for the recognition and to be a vehicle for the plants: “That’s been my primary mission as a folk herbalist: bringing herbalism back into people's kitchens, showing them how to use the herbs, how to grow them, how to practice thoughtful awareness when harvesting and, of course, how to help with the preservation of plants. It’s been such a great honor to serve the plants in this way.”
AHPA Herbal Diversity & Inclusion Award: Radicle Science
Radicle Science was founded to break down barriers in traditional healthcare and make personalized, evidence-based wellness treatments accessible to all. Recognizing the inequities in conventional research, confounders Jeff Chen, a physician-scientist, and Pelin Thorogood, a tech executive and philanthropist, launched Radicle Science in 2021. Since then, the organization has redefined inclusion by conducting some of the largest clinical trials in history, ensuring broader representation in herbal and natural product research.
“We are honored to receive AHPA’s Diversity & Inclusion Award, recognizing Radicle Science’s mission to make proven, personalized wellness accessible to all. Clinical research has long lacked diversity, but our large-scale proof-as-a-service trials are changing that – with broad representation across demographics and lifestyles that is unprecedented in medical research, ensuring results that are precise and relevant for all. And, diversity isn’t just in our research – it’s in our company's DNA. Our team’s rich mix of backgrounds and expertise reflects the inclusivity we champion. This award reaffirms that diversity isn’t a challenge – rather, it’s the key to advancing our innovation at Radicle and health equity for society."
–Dr. Jeff Chen & Pelin Thorogood, Cofounders of Radicle Science
AHPA Environmental Impact Award: One Step Closer
One Step Closer (OSC) is a collaborative community of mission-driven businesses dedicated to advancing sustainability and regenerative practices in the natural products industry. Through initiatives such as the Packaging Collaborative and the Climate Collaborative, OSC fosters innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact and promote a more sustainable supply chain. By uniting industry leaders to drive meaningful change, OSC continues to set new standards for corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship.
"We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the American Herbal Products Association. The ripple effect of our programs has been instrumental in building the thriving, collaborative industry we envision – one where we lift each other up and amplify our collective impact. On behalf of our dedicated collaborators and all those who have participated in the OSC Packaging Collaborative, Climate Collaborative, JEDI Collaborative, Women's Circles, and beyond, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for this award that affirms the importance of working together to strengthen our industry.”
–Lara Dickinson, Executive Director & Co-Founder of One Step Closer
AHPA Visionary Award: Dr. Muhammed Majeed (1948-2024)
Dr. Muhammed Majeed was a pioneer in developing standardized herbal extracts from India’s Ayurvedic plants, helping to create a global market for these traditional ingredients. As the founder and leader of the Sami-Sabinsa Group for 36 years, he built it into a leading multinational health and life sciences company, advancing innovation in herbal research and product development. His lasting contributions to the herbal products industry continue to be recognized and celebrated following his passing in 2024.
“Dr. Majeed received many awards and recognitions throughout his career, but would have been particularly honored by this AHPA Visionary Award. His vision and commitment to validating the wisdom of the Ayurvedic practitioners dating back thousands of years, using the modern research methods he was trained in, were what drove him, along with the desire to improve people’s health. He had a deep reverence for herbs, and recognized the important role AHPA has filled for decades in advocating for botanical products.”
–Shaheen Majeed, Global CEO & Managing Director of Sabinsa (pictured with the award, having accepted on behalf of his late father)
AHPA Herbal Pioneer Award: Caroline MacDougall
For over 50 years, Caroline MacDougall has been at the forefront of sourcing and introducing unique botanicals to the U.S. market, beginning with her work at Celestial Seasonings in the 1970s. Throughout her pioneering career, she has played a pivotal role in expanding herbal tea formulations that make the benefits of herbs accessible to mainstream consumers. As the founder of Teeccino, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, she has pioneered the coffee alternative category and helped establish sustainable supply chains for ingredients like rooibos and organic chicory, supporting smallholder farmers and rainforest preservation.
The AHPA Herbal Pioneer Award was presented to Caroline by her son, Galen MacDougall, whom she fittingly acknowledged in her acceptance speech that called for support of future generations in the industry: “I’m just so honored to be acknowledged as being part of them [herbal pioneers] and part of all of you who will carry on this work. So, keep passing it further, as I hope I have with my son and as I hope all of you do with important people in your lives. Pass on the knowledge and keep our beautiful herbal wisdom alive.”
AHPA Service to Herbal Knowledge Award: Herbs of Commerce, 3rd ed., Expert Advisory Council & Editors
AHPA’s Herbs of Commerce provides guidance on consistent naming of botanical ingredients on product labels, especially those marketed in the United States as dietary supplements. The third edition, published in 2023, contains entries for over 2,800 separate plant species, over 1,000 botanical synonyms, over 300 Ayurvedic names, and over 700 pinyin names.
Herbal experts David Bunting, Mitch Coven, Daniel Gagnon, Wilson Lau, Roy Upton, David Winston, and Steven Yeager generously volunteered their time and extensive knowledge as members of the Expert Advisory Council for the third edition of this esteemed herbal text. Their contributions, alongside the editorial work of Wendy Applequist, Holly Johnson, Merle Zimmermann, and the late Michael McGuffin, helped shape this invaluable resource for the herbal community and beyond. Herbs of Commerce, 3rd ed., is available now.
AHPA welcomes new and re-elected trustees for 2025
March 11, 2025
Last week, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) conducted the election for AHPA's Board of Trustees at the annual member meeting on March 4 at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA.
AHPA is pleased to welcome the following industry leaders, representing the wide range of herbal and dietary supplement industry segments supported by AHPA, who were each elected to serve 3-year terms on the AHPA board:
Newly Elected Trustees
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Nate Brennan (Foster Farm Botanicals)
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Matt Dybala (Pacific Botanicals)
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Keri Marshall (Kokora)
Re-elected Trustees
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Nils Mueggenburg (Mueggenburg USA)
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Alessandra Storzini (Indena)
In addition to the elected trustees, Julie Daoust (M2 Ingredients) will serve a 1-year term as an assigned trustee.
Following the election, the board convened to elect board officers and executive committee members for the coming year:
Board Officers
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Chair: Kristina Tucker (The Republic of Tea)
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Vice Chair: Katie Banaszewski (NOW Foods)
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Secretary: Steven Yeager (Mountain Rose Herbs)
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Treasurer: Mitch Coven (Vitality Works)
Executive Committee
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Staci Eisner (Cortex Scientific Botanicals)
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Beth Lambert (Herbalist & Alchemist)
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Nils Mueggenburg (Mueggenburg USA)
AHPA's trustees bring invaluable experience and expertise to the association, dedicating their time and leadership to support AHPA’s mission and help drive the continued growth and success of the dietary supplement and natural product industries.
AHPA announces selection of Graham Rigby as new President & CEO
March 4, 2025
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Today at the annual member meeting of the association, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Board of Trustees announced the selection of Graham Rigby as the new President & CEO of AHPA. The decision came with longtime leader Michael McGuffin’s full participation and blessing, as he participated in the executive search process prior to his passing. McGuffin’s confidence in Rigby’s leadership ensures a continuity of vision for AHPA and its members.
A seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in the natural products industry, Rigby brings a wealth of expertise in strategic leadership, organizational management, and advocacy. With more than a decade of service on AHPA’s Board of Trustees – including as Board Chair and, most recently, Chair of the Finance & Governance Committee – he has proven himself a steadfast advocate for the herbal and dietary supplement industry, championing quality, safety, and responsible regulation.
“We are honored to welcome Graham as AHPA’s next President & CEO,” said Kristina Tucker, Chair of the AHPA Board of Trustees. “His deep industry knowledge, passion for herbal products, and strong leadership experience make him the right person to continue building on Michael’s legacy and guiding AHPA into the future.”
Throughout his career, Rigby has held executive leadership roles at Care/of (Bayer AG), Organic India, and New Chapter (Procter & Gamble), where he led innovation, regulatory strategy, quality compliance, and business development programs. Most recently, he served as Head of Innovation & Partner Success at IngredientAI, a generative AI startup focused on the nutraceutical industry. His commitment to industry growth, scientific advancement, and member-driven initiatives aligns seamlessly with AHPA’s mission.
“I am honored to step into this role and serve AHPA’s members,” said Rigby. “Michael McGuffin’s leadership shaped this organization and the industry in profound ways, and I am committed to carrying forward his vision: supporting our members, advocating for appropriate regulatory policies that promote the responsible and sustainable commerce of herbs and herbal products, and ensuring the continued growth and integrity of the natural products community.”
AHPA will share further details about Rigby’s transition into his new role in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Jane Wilson will continue to serve as Interim Executive Director.
