The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) applauded President Joe Biden’s apparent intent to nominate Robert M. Califf, MD, for Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to CRN’s President and CEO, Steve Mister, “CRN welcomes the news of President Biden’s apparent intent to nominate Dr. Robert M. Califf to lead FDA as its next commissioner. We look forward to working with Dr. Califf to strengthen the dietary supplement industry and protect consumers by ensuring products are safe and meet regulatory requirements.”

CRN urged Califf to prioritize the following action items to strengthen the dietary supplement and functional foods industry:

1. Increase funding to the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP) at FDA, recognizing this Office must keep pace with the rapidly growing industry it oversees
2. Work with Congress to enact legislation to establish mandatory product listing for supplements
3. Establish a legal pathway to market for hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) as a dietary supplement
4. Issue final guidance on the labeling of probiotics
5. Issue final guidance for new dietary ingredients, along with an official list of pre-DSHEA dietary ingredients that are “grandfathered” under the 1994 law
6. Protect consumers and strengthen incentives for innovation with more proactive enforcement of the existing law for dietary supplements

“CRN has enjoyed a strong working relationship with FDA and looks forward to continuing this relationship under Dr. Califf’s leadership,” Mister added. “Together, we will continue growing an innovative and safe marketplace for dietary supplements that protect consumers, while avoiding unwarranted regulatory burdens for the industry.”

For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.