CRN Pledges to Bring Energy, Expertise in Support of New FDA Initiative

FDA Acting Commissioner Lester Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., addresses the audience as CRN President Annette Dickinson, Ph.D. looks on at the CRN Annual Conference on Dietary Supplements at the Lansdowne Resort, Lansdowne, Va.

For high-resolution images, contact Gretchen Powers gpowers@crnusa.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 25, 2004 — On the opening day of the Council for Responsible Nutrition's (CRN) Annual Conference on dietary supplements, keynote speaker Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Lester Crawford, Ph.D., D.V.M., announced a major new initiative to more fully implement the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). The initiative will involve all major stakeholders, including the industry, in a process designed to clarify the definitions and standards that will be applied in evaluating new ingredients and claims and in pursuing enforcement actions. Topics to be addressed will include defining new ingredients, outlining substantiation requirements for structure/function claims, and determining how a "reasonable expectation of safety" is assured.

"CRN welcomes the opportunity to enter into a constructive dialogue with FDA and other stakeholders on these critical issues," said Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., president, CRN. "It is in the best interest of responsible companies to have a clear understanding of regulatory requirements and to have a level playing field for all competitors. FDA can expect CRN and its member companies to bring their energy and expertise to bear in this effort."

Note to Editor: The CRN 2004 Annual Conference takes place from Oct. 24-27 at the Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne, Va.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing dietary supplement industry ingredient suppliers and manufacturers. CRN members adhere to a strong code of ethics, comply with dosage limits and manufacture dietary supplements to high quality standards under good manufacturing practices. For more information on CRN, visit http://www.crnusa.org.

FDA Acting Commissioner Lester Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., announces a major new initiative to more fully implement DSHEA during his keynote address at the CRN Annual Conference on Dietary Supplements at the Lansdowne Resort, Lansdowne, Va.
For high-resolution images, contact Gretchen Powers gpowers@crnusa.org.