Harvest Moon Natural Foods

ABOUT THE

NATURAL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

Association Facts

• The Natural Products Association (formerly NNFA) ( http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/ ) is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural products industry. The association represents more than 9,600 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products including foods, dietary supplements, and health and beauty aids. Headquartered in Washington D.C. ,, the Natural Products Association also has a national West coast office in California and seven regional offices throughout the United States. The association is governed by a 22-member board of directors representing all segments of industry.
  

• The Natural Products Association is recognized for its strong, aggressive lobbying presence in Washington, D.C., where it serves as the industry watchdog on regulatory and legislative matters. Natural Products Association's legal team, provided by the international law firm of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood offers invaluable legal assistance on matters concerning the natural products industry. The Natural Products Association's Washington activities are monitored by the lobbying firm, Capitol Associates.

• In 1994, The Natural Products Association was instrumental in the industry's fight to secure critical legislation affecting natural products resulting in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). DSHEA granted the natural products industry the right to include health-relevant information with its products.

• In 1995, The Natural Products Association was represented on a special working group of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The group developed recommended guidelines for the use of Ephedra in dietary supplements, including stronger, more explicit labeling.

• Members that manufacture or distribute dietary supplements under their own label are required to enroll in the Natural Products Association's TruLabel program. TruLabel is the industry's only self-regulatory testing program, which fosters quality assurance. The Natural Products Association members must be enrolled in the TruLabel program to exhibit at the Natural Products Association's annual convention and trade show. Additionally, the Natural Products Association launched another quality assurance program in January 1999, the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certification Program. This third-party audit program is based on the Natural Products Association GMPs and is designed to review all elements of manufacturing to provide reasonable assurance that processes are sufficiently controlled so that products meet their purported quality.

When you shop at your health food store, make sure they are members of the Natural Products Association. This ensures you are supporting a retailer that is committed and dedicated to quality and keeping your health choices your decision.