CRN unpacks how supplement industry can navigate US FDA modernization amid regulatory uncertainty

Stakeholders from across the nutraceutical industry are deliberating the implications of evolving US FDA policies related to new dietary ingredient notifications and enforcement priorities. They are also concerned about drug preclusion — a rule banning drug ingredients sold as dietary supplements — and implications stemming from modernized dietary supplement oversight. 

These discussions took place among leading legal, regulatory, and compliance professionals at the recent 14th Annual Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Forum on Dietary Supplements, organized by the American Conference Institute and the trade organization Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

CRN experts led discussions with senior FDA and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials, which offered insight into the legal, regulatory, and policy issues shaping the future of the industry.

The FTC’s Christine DeLorme also presented advertising compliance and consumer protection priorities, reinforcing the importance of robust product substantiation, the responsible use of testimonials and reviews, and maintaining consumer trust in an evolving digital marketplace.

“The conversations throughout this conference made clear that regulatory engagement and collaboration across the industry have never been more important,” says CRN’s Megan Olsen.

“As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, opportunities to engage directly with FDA and FTC leaders, hear diverse expert perspectives, and exchange practical experiences help companies make informed decisions while continuing to deliver safe, innovative products that consumers can trust.”

Growing patchwork of requirements

At the conference, speakers explored the increasingly active role of states in regulating dietary supplements, which is creating a “growing patchwork” of requirements that companies must navigate while maintaining national compliance programs.

Speakers at the conference highlighted the growing patchwork of state regulations forcing dietary supplement companies to navigate varied local laws while maintaining national compliance.Panelists underscored that these topics are not isolated policy changes and urged companies to prepare for a market in which US regulatory demands continue to evolve, “requiring more agile governance, stronger cross-functional collaboration, and proactive compliance planning.”

CRN also provided an update on its constitutional challenge to New York’s law restricting the sale of certain dietary supplements to minors based solely on how those products are labeled or marketed. 

Last March, the trade group petitioned the US Supreme Court, arguing that this law sets a dangerous precedent by restricting safe, legal products based solely on branding text rather than actual ingredients.

At the conference, the company underscored the potential implications for commercial speech and future state regulation. It also discussed class action litigation trends and their potential impact on the dietary supplement industry.

Emerging tech in nutraceuticals

The event also spotlighted emerging technologies as speakers examined how AI is changing regulatory compliance, scientific substantiation, post-market surveillance, and risk monitoring.

Rather than viewing AI as simply a tool for improving efficiency, speakers said it is enabling companies to identify emerging issues more quickly and strengthen regulatory decision-making in an increasingly complex marketplace.

For instance, researchers in the field have been combining different diet-tracking methods — from wearable cameras to dietary biomarkers — to paint a more reliable picture of what people eat and drink, rather than focusing on a single tool.