NPA In The News

Natural Certification Important to New Companies

CARA B Naturally, a new all-natural skin and hair care line developed specifically for African American children, earned NPA natural certification before its launch. Natural Hair Products for Soul Babies...a Q&A with CARA B Founders

NPA Advocates for Supplements to Supreme Court

NPA filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court defending the dietary supplement industry against an overreaching and potentially damaging decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
CNBC: NPA Advocates for Dietary Supplement Industry to the U.S. Supreme Court
Drug Store News: Industry voices opinion on Ninth Circuit decision of Matrixx Initiatives suit
Sacramento Bee: NPA Advocates for Dietary Supplement Industry to the U.S. Supreme Court

NPA and the Rise of Energy Drinks

Fanhouse.com, a sports website ran an article called, Growth of Energy Drinks Speeds Debate on Their Dangers. NPA's Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D. was quoted regarding the topic of government regulation of the products: 

Daniel Fabricant, spokesperson for the Natural Products Association, says caffeine disclosure falls into a "gray area" of FDA regulation, but adds that manufacturers of energy drinks are delivering as much caffeine as one could get at any Starbucks. Despite some products not displaying the exact amount of caffeine, Fabricant says the products do give the consumer a list of ingredients contained inside.

"I think to some degree these are easy targets," Fabricant says. "Coke doesn't list how much caffeine it contains. You go to Burger King and don't know how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee. Is it really that different?"

NPA Defends Industry Against Consumer Reports "Attack"

The September 2010 issue of "Consumer Reports" included a report claiming that dietary supplements were dangerous to people’s health and posted a list of “12 supplements you should avoid.” NPA's rebuttal was welcomed by the media and the industry.

WholeFoods Magazine: NPA, AHPA Defend Industry Against Consumer Report’s Attack on Dietary Supplements
Drug Store News: NPA: Consumer Reports story is 'an attack on dietary supplements'
Nutraceuticals World: NPA Calls Consumer Reports Article ‘An Attack on Supplements’
Edge on Health Blog: How Safe Are Your Supplements?

NPA's 'Natural' Seal Gaining Importance to Consumers

As more personal care products arecertified "natural," the NPA seal is becoming an essential part of consumers' selection process. 

Supermarket Guru: Beauty and the Beast: Regulation of organic personal care products.

The NPA’s Standard and Certification for Personal Care Products, which encompasses all cosmetic personal care products regulated and defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is based on natural ingredients, safety, responsibility and sustainability. Most important to the standards is that a product labeled "natural" should be made up of only, or at least 95 percent, natural ingredients and be manufactured with appropriate processes to maintain ingredient purity.

NPA Hits Certification Milestone

NPA's recent announcement of it certifying 300 natural personal care products has hit the press.

BabysBliss.com: The NPA Seal...for Consumers Who Care
Happi: Natural Products Association Hits Milestone 

Natural Standard and Seal for Home Care: In the News

The NPA natural certification standard and seal for home care recieved broad mentions throughout the media in July and August:

Are “Natural” Household Cleaners Really Safer?

The NPA's natural certification program for home products was highlighted by the Alliance for Natural Health in its newsletter.

Q & A with Daniel Fabricant on legislative priorities

Natural Foods Merchandiser interviewed NPA's science VP, Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., on the association's legislative plans and regulation's effects on the industry in its Supplements Guide issue.

New Standards for "Natural' at Home

The new natural standard for home care products was announced in the June  issue of the monthly magazine available for no charge at natural products outlets around the U.S., and on the "Taste for Living" website, www.tasteforlife.com.

NPA Tells Senators: Don't Expand FTC's Authority

The association's statements on the controversial provision in the Wall Street Reform bill (S. 3217) that would have expanded the FTC's power to include dietary supplements, were published in several major trade and general media outlets. Thanks to a strong advocacy and grassroots effort among association members and related trade associations, the provision was defeated. See "House, Senate Conference Rejects Expanded FTC Powers."

Naural Cleaning Products on "The Doctors"

NPA  Vice President of Global Government and Scientific Affairs Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., appears on "The Doctors" television show, discussing natural cleaning products and the association's Natural Certification seal for home cleaning products.

Natural Seal on "The CBS Early Show"

The NPA Natural Seal and Standards program was included in a report about green cleaning products during "The CBS Early Show" on February 16, 2010. Consumer Reports' Urvashi Rangan discussed a survey of all-natural cleaner claims.

The following was published along with the article "Q & A with Daniel Fabricant"

Q: What issues are facing the NPA?

A: The economy aside, there are certainly challenges and legislative challenges in the present and likely future for the industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration appears to be reenergized. And with new money in the agency's coffers, it is planning to conduct a significant number of good manufacturing practice inspections and look at other records for the process. So a large portion of our job is to, either through certification or education, work to ensure that manufacturing facilities are compliant and understand their regulatory vulnerability for matters like serious adverse-event reporting. We're an FDA-regulated industry, a tightly regulated one at that, but we still have our critics on Capitol Hill and in the media that want to see additional regulation. As we have always done, we are standing watch and are working diligently to advocate for the industry, as well as thwart any potential legislative threats to the Dietary Spuplement Health and Education Act.

The following was published along with the article "Eco-labels: Environmental Marketing in the Beauty Industry "

Consumers, however, have become aware of greenwashing practices that may be associated with the use of general claims on "natural," "earth-friendly" and "non-toxic" products, causing confusion in the marketplace and weakening the perception of truly green products. According to a panel from the Natural Products Association (NPA) and representatives from natural beauty care companies, as few as 20% of the products in the natural personal care products sector are truly green. In response, the beauty industry is turning to eco-labels as a means to reposition itself within the market and substantiate green claims for products in this industry.

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Germany's BDIH (Bundesverband deutscher Industrie-und Handelsunternehmen) Certified Natural Cosmetics mark and France's Ecocert Ecological Cosmetics and Ecological and Organic Cosmetics marks are the eco-labels* that currently globally dominate the beauty market. These have been in the forefront of the beauty eco-label movement, and others--such as GreenSeal, the Natural Products Association's "The Natural Seal," NaTrue and Cradle-to-Cradle--are relatively new to the beauty industry, but are poised to make significant inroads into the North American eco-label market.

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Eco-labels that concentrate on natural rather than organic ingredients require a minimum content of ingredients that are sourced from a renewable or plentiful natural source. These labels also require that the products contain no petroleum-based ingredients. These eco-labels include NaTrue's "Natural Cosmetics" label and the Natural Products Association's "The Natural Seal."

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Geographically, the Natural Products Association and GreenSeal marks are widely recognized in the U.S., and the EcoLogo mark is predominant in Canada.

The following was published along with the article "US CAM spend equals one third of out-of-pocket drug spend"

But Dan Fabricant PhD, interim executive director and CEO at the Washington DC-based Natural Products Association (NPA), said while the figure was high, it could in part be explained by the US insurance system and basic macroeconomics.

"I would imagine that on average a CAM modality is substantially more economical in terms of cost than the cost of out-of pocket pharmaceutical purchases," he said.

"Because in general there is much less insurance coverage of CAM and virtually none for non-vitamin, non-mineral CAM, we would expect that there are more out of pocket purchases of CAM versus Rx."

The following was published along with the article "Congress bills challenge FDA and FTC power"

Dan Fabricant, the interim executive director and CEO at the Natural Products Association (NPA), said the bills would struggle to gain visibility.

"With all that is going on right now with health care reform, food safety and, potentially, climate issues down the road, I would speculate that these proposals will not receive much attention," Fabricant told NutraIngredients-USA.com

The following was published along with the article "FDA warns consumers against steroid-containing supplements"

After a string of negative media reports published earlier this year and pointing the finger at sports supplements in general, the supplements trade group Natural Products Association (NPA) tried to set the record straight.

NPA commended increased scrutiny by professional sports leagues on steroid usage, but said this has also led to unsubstantiated allegations that a "tainted" or mislabeled dietary supplement is to blame when an athlete tests positive for a banned substance.

"As the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) mandates, all ingredients must be listed on product labels and product claims must be substantiated," said Seckman.

"If this is not the case, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - have the authority under DSHEA to act promptly. These federal enforcement powers include, but are not limited to, removing any dietary supplements deemed adulterated from the marketplace and imposing substantial penalties on those who violate the law.

The following was published along with the article "Don't amend DSHEA, amend attitudes, says industry"

No regulation was capable of 100 per cent control over all activity, said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Washington DC-based, Natural Products Association.

The following was published along with the article "Supplement bills call for more healthcare focus, "full" regulation"

In relation to HR 3263, Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D, vice president, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at the trade group Natural Products Association said:

As much as we'd like to see the focus on how supplements can be incorporated into the healthcare system and have a cost-savings benefit, with so much of the focus currently on the healthcare reform bills and food safety bills, as well as some discussion on potentially a second stimulus package, it is unfortunate but it would seem that at this time, such a proposal will take somewhat of a back burner position."

The following was published along with the article "Bayer faces lawsuit for selenium cancer prevention ads"

Daniel Fabricant PhD, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the supplement trade group Natural Products Association (NPA) said today's action "puts folks on notice".

"No matter the size or type of the firm, the nature of their business, [...] someone is always watching, whether it's FDA, FTC or a NGO like CSPI," he wrote in an e-mail.

"While [companies] may have their own interpretation of the rules and regulations as to how dietary supplement products are marketed, we need to remain diligent and ensure that all the industry, in marketing products, are taking positions that are defensible and consistent with the state of the science."

The following was published along with the article "Line between natural and organic becoming blurred for consumers"

An industry group,the Natural Products Association, says products carrying its natural seal derive 95% of the ingredients from natural sources. Other rules include: no ingredients with suspected human health risks, no processes that significantly alter the purity/effect of natural ingredients, ingredients from a renewable or plentiful natural source, minimal manufacturing processes.

The following was published along with the article "A Green, Solvent-free Biocatalytic Method to Produce Cosmetic Esters "

Natural ingredients have always been important in the cosmetics market, and the demand for the use of greener processes is becoming more important to both formulators and consumers. In the present article-and to emphasize the distinction-natural refers to the source of raw materials, an example set by the Natural Products Association, while green refers to the process used to convert starting materials to a finished ingredient.

The following was published along with the article "An Opportunity to Seize "

"Certainly the relationship between the companies raises some red flags," said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at Natural Products Association (Washington, DC). He noted that any time a regulatory system looks only at "snapshot history," such as the current system, myriad situations and questions will arise.

"Inspectors are only at the facility for one week of the year," he continued. "We must have standards and enforceable procedures in place for the other 51 weeks of the year. That is the standard that the industry must work towards."

The following was published along with the article "Omega-3 deficiency causes 96,000 US deaths per year, say researchers "

Shao's counterpart at the Natural Products Association, Dan Fabricant, PhD, emphasized the potential public health care savings that could be derived from better nutrition, especially in tight economic times, but called for further study.

"We need more clinical research that nails down why omega-3 is so effective," Fabricant said. "This seems to be the last missing piece for omega-3s in terms of clarifying the picture for governmental/regulatory bodies of its efficacy."

The following was published along with the article "Transparency meeting: What's behind FDA enforcement, asks industry "

According to the dietary supplements trade group Natural Products Association (NPA), which is participating in the meeting, the industry's greatest need for transparency is in the field of enforcement.

"The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) is a strict liability statute, one in which a violation is subject to misdemeanor penalties. With that said it is unclear as to why the agency has not brought more misdemeanor enforcement action against blatant violators," Daniel Fabricant, PhD, NPA director of scientific and regulatory affairs, will say.

"In the supplement world there are products that are illegally masquerading as supplements that are actually unapproved drugs, primarily analogues of sildenafil and sibutramine."

"I think I speak for all in the industry and for consumers in asking why such violations aren't met with misdemeanor enforcement action by the agency, when the law, as it stands gives the agency more than enough authority to do such."

The following was published along with the article "Selenium health claims: Too qualified to qualify?"

Daniel Fabricant Ph.D, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the supplements trade group Natural Products Association (NPA), said the claims are "not very useful".

"I can't see why anyone would want to use these claims. The longer and more qualified the claims get, the less a consumer will pay attention to them," he told NutraIngredients-USA.com.

However, he added that this is yet more evidence from FDA that the supplements industry needs to be prepared to meet stringent scientific requirements.

"FDA has made it clear that we've got some additional work to do in terms of supporting evidence for health claims."

The following was published along with the article "The latest on PC certifications"

According to NPA Vice President of Science and Regulatory Affairs Daniel Fabricant, the first products were certified in September, and as of February, 122 products from six manufacturers--Aubrey Organics, Burt's Bees, Highland Laboratories, J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary, S&V Corp. and Yes to Carrots--had qualified for the seal.

PCC Natural Markets, based in Seattle, is requiring its vendors and manufacturers to comply with the standard. "We're trying to do more education and get more information out to other retailers," Fabricant says. "A lot of companies that have not had a truly natural line are adapting and reformulating their lines to qualify for the seal."

The following was published along with the article "Warning against diet supplements for swine flu"

The industry coalition, which includes the Natural Products Association and the American Herbal Products Association, warned in a statement: "We are unaware of any scientific data supporting the use of dietary supplements to treat swine flu."

The following was published along with the article "Swine flu supplement fraud will not be tolerated, say regulators and industry"

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA) and United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) said in an advisory:
Marketers and retailers of dietary supplements are urged to refuse to stock or sell any supplements that are presented as treating or curing swine flu, and marketers and retailers should refrain from promoting any dietary supplement as a cure or treatment for swine flu.

The following was published along with the article "Beauty goes green"

The Natural Standard - The Natural Products Association has been working with manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and the personal care industry to create The Natural Standard. The Natural Seal will be awarded to products which use organic, biodegradable ingredients and environmentally sensitive packaging. This certification requires a minimum of 95% organic ingredients, and will only be accredited to brands with a minimum 60% of its products meeting the associations standards.

The following was published along with the article "No warning letter in American Mercantile raid. Is this the new FDA?"

"Certainly the relationship between the companies raises some red flags," says Daniel Fabricant, PhD, vice president Scientific and Regulatory Affairs of Natural Products Association, but anytime a regulatory system looks only at "snapshot history" as does the current system, these types of situations and questions will arise. "Inspectors are only at the facility for one week of the year. We must have standards and enforceable procedures in place for the other 51 weeks of the year. That is the standard that the industry must work towards."

The following was published along with the article "Organic Beauty Products: Learn the Lingo"

CERTIFICATION: No single system monitors all products; companies choose which seals to apply for [NPA Natural Seal shown in chart]. Although most certifications address a product's ingredients, some rate its environmental impact as well.

The following was published along with the article "NPA releases chondroitin quality results from Chinese testing program"

The Natural Products Association (NPA) has added a Chinese chondroitin manufacturer to its list of suppliers that undergo the group's ingredient purity and quality testing in China.

NPA's raw ingredient testing program in China was set up in 2007 to provide US supplement manufacturers with quality assurances prior to shipment of product.

"Instead of relying either on tests provided by China or post-shipment tests, US manufacturers can test the quality of Chinese raw materials prior to shipment. The testing of ingredients from China-based companies is coordinated between the NPA headquarters in Washington and the NPA-China office in Beijing," said the group.

The following was published along with the article "Sunshine is just what the doctor ordered":

"There is a lot more that we still need to learn," admitted Daniel Fabricant, a vice president at the Natural Products Association, a lobbying group for the vitamin industry.

However, Dr Fabricant and other proponents of supplement use dispute some of the recent findings, especially the Hutchinson study, saying women in that trial did not all take the same multi-vitamin, making it impossible to know what levels of various nutrients each was ingesting.

The following was published along with the article "Warning: That mascara may be hazardous to your health":

The Natural Products Association this year established a certification program that defines "natural" and uses a seal to designate skin and hair products that meet those standards. Certified products must be made from at least 95% nonsynthetic ingredients.

The following was published along with the article "Decoding Green Seals"

A nonprofit founded in 1936 that represents thousands of retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors of natural products, including cosmetics.

What's in the product: At least 95 percent natural ingredients (defined as renewable flora, fauna, or minerals that have not been processed using synthetic chemicals).

What's not: Synthetic ingredients (includes parabens, phthalates, and sodium laureth sulfate) that have a suspected potential health risk, like endocrine disruption, or those (like chemical sunscreens) for which an effective natural alternative exists.

Animal testing: No

A few who've earned it: Certain products from Burt's Bees, Aubrey Organics, and J.R. Watkins.

The following was published along with the article "Vitamins E and C not OK for CVD"

The study drew criticism from the Washington DC-based industry trade groups, the Natural Products Association (NPA) and the Council for Responsible for Nutrition (CRN). The NPA's vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, Daniel Fabricant, PhD, wondered which criteria had been employed to select the study's dosage levels of 500mg for vitamin C and 400IU for vitamin E. "On the second page of the study, it references nine pooled studies that when using 700 milligrams per day of vitamin C showed a 25 per cent reduction in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease," Fabricant said. "Yet this study only used 500mg per day." Vitamin intake from food sources was not controlled and the fact the sample was taken from the medical fraternity, who were more likely to live healthily, confounded the study, he said. "It is essentially a drug study but one without a positive control, which is necessary to ensure the experimental design can produce a positive result even if the intervention was unable to."

The following was published along with the article "Check for label marking 'natural' products"

A new green seal from the Natural Products Association, a trade organization that boasts about 10,000 members, aims to help consumers identify environmentally friendly options for their skin. The group guarantees that products with the seal are made from renewable or plentiful ingredients that haven't been subjected to any process that significantly alters their purity.

The following was published along with the article "Spa-tacular! Organic beauty goes virtual"

Organizations like the Organic Consumers Association, Teens for Safe Cosmetics and the Natural Products Association are helping to spread the word and inform consumers that there is a lot of greenwashing going on in the beauty business and that ultimately, you have to turn that bottle around and read those ingredients if you want to know what you're really getting.

The following was published along with the article "Natural personal care items grow in popularity"

Sales of natural personal care products are growing strongly, despite a softer U.S. economy. Even with high prices for food and energy crimping people's splurges, analysts say the boom isn't going to end anytime soon....

The Natural Products Association estimates the natural personal care industry is growing five times faster than regular personal care products. The interest is twofold, says Daniel Fabricant, a spokesman for the trade group -- concern about the environment and a desire among consumers for healthy products free of synthetic ingredients.

The following was published along with the article "Seal of approval"

If you're a consumer who likes the idea of using natural personal care products, shopping for them has gotten easier. That's because the Natural Products Association has come up with a new certification program that defines "natural." Products that meet the standards will soon have green seals on the packaging to help consumers identify them.

The following Letter to the Editor from David Seckman is published:

The Post's series on the obesity epidemic among children ["Young Lives at Risk"] has been compelling but has given short shrift to Congress's efforts to combat this problem. The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2007, which has gotten barely a mention, has 141 bipartisan sponsors in the House and 30 in the Senate.

This indicates strong support and gives these bills a shot at moving forward. If passed, this legislation would update obsolete food standards in schools, eliminating many of the nutritionally deficient snacks that are sold through vending machines and elsewhere on campuses. I hope your coverage will spur constituents to urge Congress to follow through on this much-needed reform.

Daniel Fabricant, the Natural Products Association's vice president of scientific affairs is interviewed for a television segment on products that contain the word 'natural' on their labels. Fabricant explains that FDA does not have a definition for the word.

The following Letter to the Editor from David Seckman is published:

I believe you have overstated the potential risks while downplaying those studies that have demonstrated the benefits of following a regular vitamin regimen ("Prevention: The Case Against Vitamins," The Journal Report, March 20).

But whatever the latest study shows about the effect of dietary supplements on disease prevention and amelioration, there is one area where vitamin supplements are indisputably necessary and that is in ensuring we receive an adequate amount of essential nutrients daily. You correctly state that we can get the proper amount of micronutrients from foods. But the fact is, more than 75% of Americans don't, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

And while it is well known that clinical syndromes of classical vitamin deficiencies are unusual in industrialized nations, suboptimal vitamin status is quite common and has been associated with many severe chronic diseases. It is hoped that this article won't dissuade readers from taking their vitamins, which clearly can benefit their health.
The Wall Street Journal
April 6, 2006

The Natural Products Association's "What You Should Know About Nutrition Bars" pamphlet is mentioned.
Newsday
March 14, 2006

A magazine story mentions the Natural Products Association's quality assurance programs.
BusinessWeek
February 27, 2006

The Natural Products Association's quality assurance programs are mentioned.
Los Angeles Times
February 20, 2006

A story about one of the Natural Products Association's annual award winners is published.
St. Petersburg Times
February 19, 2006

Natural Products Association Vice President of Scientific Affairs Daniel Fabricant is interviewed for an article on the efficacy and safety of herbal products.
Denver Post
February 13, 2006

The Natural Products Association is cited in an article on Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
Deseret Morning News
January 23, 2006

The following Letter to the Editor from David Seckman is published:

That professional athletes like Rafael Palmeiro are allegedly taking illegal performance-enhancing steroids is regrettable. But to continually hint without proof that dietary supplements are the cause of failed drug screens serves no one.

If there is verifiable information that a dietary supplement contains a substance that is not listed on the label, as some have suggested, the Food and Drug Administration can and should remove that product from the marketplace.

Professional athletes receive training advice from a battery of experts, including physicians and nutritionists. They and their handlers know what substances, including dietary supplements, they can and cannot take without risking their eligibility to compete.
The New York Times
August 5, 2005

David Seckman, Natural Products Association executive director and CEO, is quoted saying that the average nutritional supplement store "isn't selling those type of products," in reference to controlled substances. He continued that over-the-counter dietary supplements are required by law to list each ingredient on the label and the chances of them being contaminated are "infinitesimal."
The Associated Press news wire and subsequently several dailies
August 2, 2005

The following Letter to the Editor from David Seckman was sent:

Your recent editorial ("Muscle Flexing in Congress," April 20, 2005) and article ("How One Pill Escaped a Place on Steroid List," April 16, 2005) on the dietary supplement DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) do not include the facts about its beneficial use and safety.

Naturally-occurring DHEA levels in the body peak in early adulthood and decline with age. At least 36 published research studies show that DHEA supplementation can safely restore levels to those typical of younger adults. The result for patients is that they report feeling more alert, enjoy an improved sense of well being, and enhanced sexual interest and enjoyment. And while DHEA does have demonstrated value in supporting normal hormone levels during aging, contrary to your implications it has no history of and little potential for abuse as a performance-enhancing ingredient. It is not an anabolic steroid, one important reason why it was not included in the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004.

We applaud Congress for understanding DHEA and its benefits, while differentiating it from anabolic steroids. It is this kind of thoughtful, insightful legislating that gives Americans the safe, effective choices they have in dietary supplements.
The New York Times
April 20, 2005

The Natural Products Association is cited regarding the competition in the U.S. nutrition industry. The story refers to the industry as "robust."
Knight Ridder wire story (appearing subsequently in several Knight Ridder publications)
April 7, 2005

A quote from Dr. Wayne Callaway from the Natural Products Association's press release regarding flaws of a study deeming vitamin E unsafe is cited.
Newsday and The Orange County Register
March 16, 2005

The following Letter to the Editor from David Seckman was published:

Millions of people benefit from using vitamin E supplements. The study in question was far from conclusive. Its findings, which were barely statistically significant, should be placed in context with other studies on vitamin E, many confirming its positive effects on cardiovascular health and other conditions.
If Americans stopped taking vitamin E, it would not save lives but endanger them. For example, one study in a major medical journal reported that increased intakes of vitamin E and certain other supplements could save $20 billion a year in hospital costs by reducing heart disease, birth defects and premature death.
The New York Times
November 18, 2004

From a presentation made at an FDA meeting on new dietary ingredient requirements for dietary supplements, David Seckman, Natural Products Association executive director and CEO, is quoted asking for clearer guidance for industry.
Dow Jones News Service
November 15, 2004

The Natural Products Association is quoted on a television broadcast regarding the association's concerns about the findings of a recent vitamin E study.
CNBC National
November 10, 2004

David Seckman, Natural Products Association executive director and CEO, is quoted regarding the relative safety of dietary supplements when compared to drugs and food-borne illnesses.
The News & Observer
September 19, 2004

The Natural Products Association is cited regarding sales figures for the natural foods industry, which reached $13.1 billion in 2002.
Associated Press Newswires, The Seattle Times
September 7, 2004

Burton Kallman, Natural Products Association scence director emeritus, is quoted in a story regarding oral spray vitamins, saying that it was unclear how well the mouth's delicate mucosal tissues transport vitamins to the bloodstream and that the best way to take vitamins is in food or in the traditional type of oral supplements.
Chicago Tribune, Kansas City Star, Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle
June 7, 2004 - July 7, 2004

Phil Harvey is interviewed on NBC affiliate television stations: WCSH-TV (Portland, ME); KJRH-TV (Tulsa, OK); WPSD-TV; WSAV-TV (Savannah, GA); WVIT-TV (Hartford, CT); WBBH-TV (Fort Myers, FL); KNTV-TV (San Francisco, CA); KNSD-TV (San Diego, CA); WBAL-TV (Baltimore, MD); WCAU-TV (Philadelphia, PA); WVTM-TV (Birmingham, AL); WWBT-TV (Richmond, VA); KXAS-TV (Dallas, TX).
NBC Affiliate Television
January 27-28, 2004

The Natural Products Association's labeling standards are mentioned in a story about the low-carb industry.
Reuter's News Service
January 22 , 2004

The Natural Products Association is cited as a source in an article regarding industry regulation.
Orange County Register
January 18, 2004

Dr. Phillip Harvey is interviewed regarding FDA ephedra ban.
National Public Radio
December 31, 2003

Harvey is also interviewed regarding BSE.
Seattle Post Intelligencer
December 31, 2003

David Seckman is quoted regarding FDA's authority to regulate unsafe products under DSHEA.
San Diego Union Tribune
December 21, 2003

David Seckman is quoted in an article regarding FTC's enforcement actions against false and misleading advertising.
Wall Street Journal
December 9, 2003

The Natural Products Association is cited in an article regarding starch blockers-dietary supplements aimed at starch cravers.
Fort-Worth Star-Telegram
November 7, 2003

The Natural Products Association is cited in an article regarding starch blockers-dietary supplements aimed at starch cravers.
Chicago Tribune
November 5, 2003

Readers are urged to choose a manufacturer that is a member of the Natural Products Association because of its adherence to certain guidelines and the fact that Natural Products Association members "are generally more rigorous about quality control than are unaffiliated manufacturers."
Better Homes and Gardens
November 1, 2003

The Natural Products Association was cited in an article regarding a new dietary supplement that contains resveratrol, a substance researchers believe may help protect human cells from diseases such as cancer and arthritis.
Associated Press Newswire
October 16, 2003

Natural Products Association Executive Director and CEO David Seckman is quoted refuting the argument that supplements should be regulated as drugs. Seckman reiterated that supplements are classified as foods and have been used safely for hundreds of years.
Associated Press
September 12, 2003

Dr. Phil Harvey, Natural Products Association chief science officer and director of science and quality assurance, was cited, saying ginkgo biloba 'has the most research and longest history' of all the supplements for mental function.
New York Times
July 29, 2003

Natural Products Association Executive Director and CEO David Seckman is interviewed regarding ephedra and dietary supplements in general. Seckman reiterated that DSHEA provides FDA with ample authority to regulate supplements.
CNNfn
July 28, 2003

The Natural Products Association's GMP program seal is cited as a "trustworthy symbol" consumers should look for on products when determining which dietary supplements to purchase.
Chicago Tribune
July 27, 2003

Regarding the July 23-24 Capitol Hill hearings on ephedra, Natural Products Association Executive Director and CEO David Seckman was quoted saying, "A wealth of scientific information, expert testimony and consumer input already exists, including reports commissioned by the FDA itself, that the agency can use to determine once and for all whether ephedra presents a hazard to public health."
Associated Press wire
July 24, 2003

Kim Smith, director of legislative affairs for the Natural Products Association, was cited regarding the assocation's concerns about FDA's proposed good manufacturing practices (GMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
Science News
June 7, 2003

The Natural Products Association was cited with sales statistics regarding the growing nutrition-bar industry in 2001 that note a 21 percent increase from the previous year in that segment.
Newsday
May 5, 2003

The Natural Products Association was cited as being a member of a coalition of dietary supplement manufacturers, retailers and marketers last week recommended that its members not promote products based on their supposed ability to fight SARS. "We do not believe there are any dietary upplements that have been known to prevent or treat SARS," read a statement from five trade associations.
The Washington Post
April 29, 2003

Tracy Taylor, director of communications for the Natural Products Association, was quoted regarding the national organic standards implemented by the USDA in late 2002, saying, "It's easier for customers to understand what it means because it means the same thing no matter where you go, when it didn't before."
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
April 28, 2003

Natural Products Association chief science officer and director of science and quality assurance Phillip Harvey was quoted regarding the function of ephedra in the body.
The Orange County Register
March 19, 2003

The Natural Products Association's Good Manufacturing Practices Certification Program is cited as a means through which manufacturers could voluntarily seek good manufacturing practice certification to enhance their credibility with consumers in the absence of a federal program.
Los Angeles Times
March 17, 2003

The Natural Products Association's member write-in campaign to the FDA on its proposed labeling rule and the question of authority to regulate ephedra is cited. The association is quoted as saying, "What is troubling is that any change in FDA's legislative authority would be the result of amending the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and apply to the entire supplement category -- not just ephedra...We don't want to go back to 1993!"
The San Diego Union-Tribune
March 9, 2003

The Natural Products Association's executive director and CEO David Seckman is quoted in several publications regarding the FDA's proposed GMP regulations. Seckman said, "The industry has been asking for this rule for a long time and we're extremely pleased that it's finally here."
The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Reuters News Wire Service
March 8, 2003

The Natural Products Association's Seckman is additionally quoted in several other publications regarding the FDA's GMP regulations: "We agree with what the FDA has done. Once the regulations are final they will strengthen consumer confidence."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 8, 2003

Phil Harvey, Ph.D., the Natural Products Association's chief science officer, contributed to an ariticle regarding the U.S. weight loss product market.
Alive magazine
January 2003

The Natural Products Association contributed to an article regarding the vibrant natural products industry in Southern California.
The Orange County Register's At Work Extra
January 2003