The Council for Responsible Nutrition Foundation (CRNF) and the BBB (Better Business Bureau) National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD) announced that the CRN/NAD program will conclude on July 1, 2020. Launched in 2006, the CRN/NAD program has served as a key self-regulatory initiative to monitor and promote truthful and accurate advertising for the dietary supplement industry, closing more than 360 cases.
Federal Trade Commissioners and FTC staff have supported the program as “an excellent example of self-regulation” that has helped to serve consumers for 15 years. The unique and effective ad-monitoring and peer-to-peer process conducted by NAD has encouraged cooperation and allowed companies the opportunity to voluntarily change non-compliant behavior before facing potentially serious consequences from the FTC and other law enforcement agencies. Each monitoring case or challenge provides advertisers a written decision explaining the review with instruction and guidance for future advertising if changes are needed.
“Though the CRN/NAD program has come to its end, our partnership with NAD continues,” said Megan Olsen, vice president & associate general counsel, CRN. “The responsible dietary supplement industry recognizes the role truthful and accurate advertising plays in leveling the playing field for honest advertisers and in providing consumers with accurate information about products they rely on to improve their health and wellness.”
Laura Brett, vice president of NAD agreed and said, “We appreciate CRN’s leadership in supporting truthful and transparent advertising for the dietary supplement industry. Our partnership highlights the value that independent and voluntary advertising self-regulation can bring in promoting fair competition in industries that are evolving and rapidly changing.”
CRN encourages the responsible industry to stay vigilant of suspect advertising and consider filing challenges against companies making egregious claims in the dietary supplement marketplace. Filing a challenge with NAD is a lower cost option than litigation and typically moves much faster than a court decision. Further encouraging responsible industry, NAD has developed the Fast-Track SWIFT (Single Well-defined Issue Fast Track) program to provide companies with an even faster method to address particular advertising challenges. Examples of challenges that may be eligible for the SWIFT program include those in which the material connection between an influencer and advertiser is not disclosed; those with content that looks editorial but is really an advertisement; misleading sales and pricing claims; and simple express claims.
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.
