AHPA, QAI, and OTA release updated NOP guidance for dietary supplements

• By: AHPA
• On: 03/26/2024 07:49:04
• In: AHPA News

March 26, 2024

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), together with Quality Assurance International (QAI), and the Organic Trade Association (OTA), is pleased to announce the publication of an updated “Guidance on Formulation and Marketing of Dietary Supplements Under the National Organic Program.” The updated resource, produced collaboratively by AHPA, QAI, and OTA, replaces the 2018 version and provides guidance to companies that wish to market organically labeled dietary supplements in the United States.
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) implements and enforces the USDA organic regulations. In recognition of the increasing complexity of organic supply chains, and to ensure organic integrity is maintained throughout the supply chain, the NOP released the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule on January 19, 2023.
 
SOE represents the most significant piece of organic rulemaking since the regulations came into force in 2002. It impacts the entire organic supply chain, including some previously exempt operations and operations that are already certified organic. The updated version of the guidance document incorporates important details of the new SOE requirements, the enforcement of which began on March 19, 2024.
 
In addition, the updated guidance includes information about the types of supplements that are eligible for organic certification under the NOP, and the various NOP labeling categories that are available for several types of supplement products. It also provides an overview of the regulatory obligations that must be met from the farm to the packaged products, as finished product marketers have regulatory obligations not only for their own manufactured products but also for the organic and nonorganic ingredients they use.
 
“AHPA is pleased to again partner with QAI and OTA in maintaining this guidance document as a resource for the organic dietary supplement industry,” said Jane Wilson, AHPA Director of Program Development. “Their leadership and expertise in organic production, and the SOE changes in particular, are key to making sure the organic supplement industry is prepared to meet the new SOE requirements.”
 
“With the enforcement date of the SOE rule quickly approaching, this document is a must-read for members across the organic dietary supplement supply chain,” said Sonia Acuña-Rubio, Director of Food Product Certification, QAI, an NSF company. “As one of the largest organic certification bodies in the U.S., QAI is committed to supporting the dietary supplement industry with meeting organic regulations, including the SOE, with additional free resources available at nsf.org.”
 
The updated “Guidance on Formulation and Marketing of Dietary Supplements Under the National Organic Program” is available now to AHPA members through the AHPA website, in addition to being available on OTA website and the NSF website.