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Trade
Organizations
Manufacturers,
distributors, practitioners and others interested in how dietary
supplements are produced, distributed and used will find organizations
whose Websites are listed here of special interest. Many of the
listed groups are actively engaged in developing and promoting quality
standards for dietary supplements and represent broad, influential
constituencies.
American
Botanical Council (ABC)
www.herbalgram.org
The American Botanical Council (ABC) educates the public about
beneficial herbs and plants, and promotes the safe and effective
use of medicinal plants. ABC disseminates scientific information
on herbs and herbal research; contributes information to professional
and scientific literature; and provides original research and
reprints of plant-related articles, audio/video tapes, books and
other educational materials.
PO
Box 144345
Austin TX 78714-4345
512-926-4900
American
Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP)
www.herbal-ahp.org
The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia™ disseminates authoritative
information on the safety and effective use of herbal supplements
and botanical medicines. In 1994, AHP began developing monographs
on botanicals. When all 300 are completed, this will represent
the most comprehensive and critically reviewed body of information
on herbal medicines in the English language, and will serve as
a primary reference for academicians, health care providers, manufacturers,
and regulators.
American
Herbal Products Association (AHPA)
www.ahpa.org
The American Herbal Products Association serve its members by
promoting the responsible commerce of products which contain herbs
and which are used to enhance health and quality of life.
American
Herbalists Guild (AHG)
www.americanherbalistsguild.com
The
American Herbalists Guild was founded in 1989 as a non-profit,
educational organization to represent the goals and interests
of herbalists. It is the only peer-review organization for professional
herbalists specializing in the medicinal use of plants. AHG membership
consists of professionals, general members (including students)
and benefactors.
Consumer
Healthcare Products Association (CHPA)
www.chpa-info.org
Formerly the Non-Prescription Drug Manufacturers Association,
which has represented U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter
medicines since 1881, NDMA has now expanded to include the makers
and suppliers of all dietary supplements as well. From its website:
"In addition to conferences and seminars and its work in science
and technology, legal and legislative affairs and public affairs,
NDMA is also responsible for the development and adoption of voluntary
industry codes and guidelines. Established by NDMA independently
of outside regulation, these guidelines demonstrate the industry's
commitment to promote and protect the public interest."
Council
for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)
www.crnusa.org
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) is a trade association
representing more than 80 companies in the nutritional supplements,
ingredients and other nutritional supplements industry. CRN members
are dedicated to enhancing the public's health through improved
nutrition, including the appropriate use of nutritional supplements.
Newsletter available at web site: CRN News
Herb
Research Foundation (HRF)
www.herbs.org
The Herb Research Foundation (HRF) is a nonprofit research and
educational organization focusing on herbs and medicinal plants.
The HRF conducts custom research proving the safety and health
benefits of herb; conducts projects on environmental conservation
of endangered herbs; and educates the press, public, scientists,
doctors, legislators and the herb industry about all aspects of
botanicals. The HRF publishes HerbalGram jointly
with the American Botanical Council, and has a specialty library
with more than 200,000 articles on file about herbs. The
HRF website also contains "greenpapers" with information on astragalus,
echinacea, ephedra, and zinc.
Institute
for Nutraceutical Advancement (INA)
www.nsfina.org
This consortium develops standardized test methods for dietary
supplements. Under its Methods Validation Program, methods have
been published for several materials and more are under development.
Details are available on the website.
Natural Products Association (NPA, formerly NNFA)
www.naturalproductsassoc.org
The
National Products Association began as the National Nutritional Foods Association, founded in 1936. It represents
the interests of some 3,000 retailers and 1,000 manufacturers,
suppliers and distributors of health foods, dietary supplements,
natural ingredient cosmetics and other natural products. NPA
promotes and protects the unique values and shared interests of
retailers and suppliers in the natural nutritional foods and products
industry. NPA unites a diverse membership, from the smallest
health food store to the largest natural products supplier. We
champion consumers' freedom of choice in our marketplace. We act
together with uncompromising integrity, and we encourage all to
reach ever higher standards of quality.
The NPA has been very active in the industry's development of
quality standards.
Non-Prescription
Drug Manufacturers Association (NDMA)
See
CHPA.
NSF
International
www.nsf.org
NSF
International is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization
doing standards development, product certification, education,
and risk-management for public health and safety. In 2000, NSF
began developing a national quality-certification program for
dietary supplements, which has now become a national standard
(NSF/ANSI Standard 173). Certification through NSF allows the
use of its quality seal on product labels. The program includes
both product testing and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) inspections.
NSF International was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in
Ann Arbor, MI USA.
Utah
Natural Products Alliance (UNPA)
To
the best of our knowledge, this organization does not have a website.
Utah
Natural Products Alliance
1075 Hollywood Avenue
Salt Lake City UT 84105
801-474-2572
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