CRN Launches Dietary Supplement Action Plan
Calls for Industry-Wide Summit

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MIAMI, September 18, 2000—John Cordaro, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), announced today that the CRN Board of Directors has approved a series of actions designed to enhance confidence in dietary supplements by consumers, healthcare professionals, government decision makers and the media.

The actions, which are part of a comprehensive CRN plan, were reviewed by the CRN board at its September 17 meeting. In endorsing these actions, the board expressed its belief that CRN’s initiatives would serve as a catalyst for broader industry action and cooperation.

As presented by Mr. Cordaro and CRN senior staff during the annual "state of the industry" address, the CRN plan would:

1. Provide a scientific review of the safety and benefits of the top-selling botanical products.
2. Seek third party certification for botanical products to eliminate the gap between label declaration and product content.
3. Use risk assessment methodology for selected dietary supplement products.
4. Enhance the role of the dietary supplement industry in science and credible research.
5. Call for the establishment of a dietary supplement information center to provide timely, useful science-based information.
6. Conduct a congressional awareness campaign to keep lawmakers up to date on dietary supplement issues.
7. Seek prompt, appropriate, food-based enforcement on safety and quality issues from the Food and Drug Administration.

"These actions provide the basis for immediate attention to concerns about the safety, quality and benefits of dietary supplements," Mr. Cordaro stated. "They also emphasize the importance of science in our industry and the need to communicate accurate, meaningful information to consumers, healthcare professionals, decision makers and the media."

In Mr. Cordaro’s closing remarks, he issued an urgent call for all dietary supplement trade associations and companies to participate in an industry wide summit within the next 60 days to coordinate individual actions and cooperate in joint activities.