Dear Friends of AHP,

We thought it important to forward this communication from our friends at United Natural Products Association (UNPA) regarding a Federal Register notification of FDA-proposed new Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) policies. You may know that HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr feels changes in GRAS policies are needed to prevent unsafe pesticides from being approved without adequate scientific investigation. He apparently remains unaware that self-affirmation of GRAS has been a primary mechanism by which pre-DSHEA nutritional and botanical ingredients are on the market. 

RFK Jr has expressed support for natural healthcare options but appears to remain unaware of the nuances by which Americans maintain access to supplement ingredients. While changing GRAS policies to protect consumers against exposure to potentially toxic pesticides, changes may have substantial negative impacts on the positive aspects of the GRAS process on natural products. 

Please take the time to read UNPA’s commentary (see below) and consider submitting comments to this Federal Register notification. Many thanks to UNPA for raising awareness about this important issue.

Sincere regards,

Roy Upton, President, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia

Founder, Global Alliance for Integrative Health & Medicine (GAIHM)

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