Self-regulation can be defined as the process whereby an industry monitors its own self-adherence to legal, ethical or safety standards.
In the case of the dietary supplement industry, self-regulation does not replace the need for companies to follow the myriad regulations and laws governing the industry. Instead, self-regulation complements and enhances government regulation and allows industry to develop new standards as science advances and new ingredients are discovered. It also builds consumer confidence for those Americans who rely on dietary supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle.
From its inception, CRN’s mission has been to rely on scientific research and evidence to support its positions on behalf of the industry. Using that as a foundation, CRN has built a hierarchy of rigorous self-regulatory standards that serve as guiding principles for its members. The Code of Ethics is the ethical foundation that all CRN members must agree to as a condition of membership.
Its other mandatory initiative is the industry-wide dietary supplement product registry known as the Supplement OWL (Online Wellness Library). It is a database of all the products sold by CRN members and other supplement manufacturers, creating a comprehensive picture of the marketplace for regulators, retailers, and industry. The Supplement OWL serves as a resource for these audiences to identify products, the ingredients used and the companies who market them, along with permitting registry users to examine and evaluate labels and other product information.
The next level of standards and a hallmark of CRN’s self-regulatory efforts are its assortment of voluntary guidelines and best practices. The entire roster of specifications has been developed by CRN member companies and approved by its board of directors. While not mandated, all members are strongly urged to abide by them, along with following all government regulations.
In addition, CRN worked to increase monitoring of advertising for dietary supplements with the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus in 2006 to help ensure supplement ads are truthful and not misleading. The program was funded through the CRN Foundation until July 2020, which, at the time, enabled NAD to review 300 dietary supplement cases during a 15-year period. However, the effort continues to function, enhancing the marketplace for dietary supplements by increasing consumer confidence in the truth and accuracy of advertising claims for dietary supplement products and encourages fair competition within the industry.
CRN was a participant in the SIDI Work Group, whose expert volunteers developed guidelines as tools for the dietary supplement industry.
Access our key self-regulatory information:
Six ethical principles all CRN members pledge to observe and uphold with respect to customers, suppliers, competitors, regulators and consumers to foster confidence in dietary supplements and functional food.
An online dietary supplement product registry providing a picture of the marketplace for regulators, retailers, industry and consumers. All CRN members who are brand owners participate in this industry-wide self-regulatory initiative.
Voluntary guidelines recommending disclosure of total caffeine content and labeling and marketing practices that underscore safe usage of caffeine-containing dietary supplements.
Voluntary guidelines with recommendations for marketing and labeling of DHEA dietary supplements.
Best practices developed in collaboration with the enzyme industry covering safe handling practices, stability, testing, and labeling of enzyme-containing dietary supplements.
Voluntary guidelines recommending that E-commerce websites provide online shoppers with the same product and ingredient information that is available on physical product packages.
Voluntary guidelines with recommended label statements to guide proper use of gummy dietary supplements, including products intended for children.
Voluntary guidelines recommending a minimum amount of 150 mcg/day of iodine in multivitamins/mineral supplements intended for pregnant and lactating women in the U.S. to support adequate iodine intake and healthy pregnancies.
Voluntary guidelines recommending label advisories for dietary supplements containing kava.
Voluntary guidelines providing recommendations for serving size, label advisories, and packaging for melatonin-containing dietary supplements.
Best practices developed with the International Probiotics Association (IPA) to provide consistency in the labeling of probiotic identity and quantity with recommendations for stability testing and product storage.
Best practices for manufacturers in providing proprietary blend information on the product label.
Voluntary guidelines for labeling the protein content in dietary supplements and functional foods.
Voluntary guidelines recommending that CRN members restrain from distributing or marketing products containing selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) due to the safety risks of these substances.
