The Natural Products Association (NPA) is asking candidates for office in 2020 to take positions on issues that impact the health of millions of Americans who are looking for ways to stay healthy during this critical time. The questionnaire, sent to all candidates running for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, asks candidates to take positions on issues including federal preemption, HSA (health savings account) and FSA (flexible spending account) reimbursement, setting a safe level of consumption for CBD, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) coverage, adverse event reporting, new dietary ingredients (NDIs), international trade and tariffs, and other issues impacting the natural products industry.

“Voters should know where candidates stand on issues that impact their health during this critical time,” said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of NPA. “This year, NPA is endorsing candidates that demonstrate they are willing to fight to expand access to nutritional supplements as more Americans look for ways to support their health.”

NPA’s push to have candidates take positions on these issues are driven by its priorities leading up to and during the pandemic:

• Before the pandemic, FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) invited comment through its Dietary Supplement Working Group on adding to regulatory regime surrounding supplements. NPA believes that before the industry pushes for additional regulations for dietary supplements, it should focus on what the FDA can already do right now in the interest of consumer safety.

• NPA continues to work with the FDA to set a safe level of daily consumption for CBD.

• NPA submitted comments and continues to urge the FDA to revise its draft guidance for NDIs.

• NPA opposed an order in Oregon that would create duplicative laws and waste limited resources during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

• In order to expand access to nutritional supplements, NPA has urged Congress and policymakers to expand programs including WIC, SNAP, and health savings accounts.

• NPA opposed legislation in Illinois (HB 3948) and Massachusetts (H1942) that would prohibit the sale of healthy, safe and legal products to minors and require supplements like protein powder to be placed under lock and key only accessible by a manager.

• NPA has worked with the Trump Administration since September of 2018 on exclusions of supplements and supplement ingredients during tariff considerations with China.

• NPA has been a member of the Coalition for Accurate Product Labeling, a group of business and agriculture organizations that believe that consumers have a right to clear, accurate, and meaningful information about the products they buy. Legislation will be introduced in Congress soon that will establish science-based criteria for all additional state and local labeling requirements.

• NPA has been at the forefront of the discussion regarding genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling for almost 20 years. For this reason, NPA supports and encourages voluntary labeling on non-GMO foods and dietary supplements; and supports legislation promoting a uniform standard is warranted to avoid separate standards for GMO labeling at the state level.

• NPA continues to work with the FDA and policymakers on defining natural. Consumers who are interested in identifying truly natural products can look for the NPA Natural Seal.

• NPA is engaging Congress on the Natural Cosmetics Act which requires cosmetics products sold, labeled, or represented as “natural” to contain at least 70 percent, excluding water, natural substances to use the term.

“We’ve done a lot this year as an industry to stay open as essential businesses, and we expect that Americans are going to look for ways to stay healthy as the US economy opens back up in the coming months,” added Fabricant. “We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration on ways to protect and expand access to nutritional supplements.”

For information, visit www.npanational.org.