CRN: Programs and Initiatives We All Need to Know About
Washington & the Natural Industry
According to Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), these are important efforts and programs we all need to know about:
“This year CRN has led a campaign to support the inclusion of the multivitamin in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The provision has been included in the House of Representatives’ version of the Farm Bill, but not in the Senate-approved draft. CRN is continuing to work with key legislative offices to demonstrate the benefits multivitamins offer and how coverage in SNAP can reduce poor nutrition among low-income Americans who have the least access to healthy food. Including the provision in SNAP this year is not only an important initiative for the industry, but more importantly, for low-income Americans to have the power to purchase a multivitamin with their SNAP benefits.
“In 2018, CRN has seen industry step up when it comes to self-regulation. Both brand owners and retailers are initiating their own self-regulatory programs to create a better marketplace and establish standards to ensure quality products.
“Programs like the Supplement Safety & Compliance Initiative (SSCI) and the Global Retailer and Manufacturer Alliance (GRMA) are great examples. GRMA is an alliance formed to develop consensus-based standards for what constitutes compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMPs). When the standards are released later this year, they will provide a common measuring stick for demonstrating GMP compliance. SSCI is led by retailers and brand owners intent on creating common benchmarks for both facility audits and product testing. And some retailers are going even further to establish their own testing regimens for vendors who want to be in their stores.
“The Supplement OWL (Online Wellness Library), although not a determinant of quality, is providing the platform on which brands can display their certifications and demonstrate the integrity of their products. So, while 2018 may have been forecasted for less federal regulation, the market has taken the opportunity to show responsibility and improve itself to create better supplements for consumers.”
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.
