WASHINGTON—The Natural Products Association's (NPA) 12th annual Natural Products Day brought industry members from around the country to Capitol Hill to hone their advocacy of important natural products political issues and to meet with various Congressional members.
The event kicked off with an informative workshop that helped participants prepare for their afternoon meetings with their House and Senate members. David Seckman, executive director and CEO of NPA, provided an overview of the important issues facing the natural products industry in this 111th Congress, including school nutrition, food safety, DSHEA, DHEA and healthcare reform. Then Advocacy guru Stephanie Vance, a longtime Washington insider with more than 15 years as both a lobbyist and a congressional aide, offered the audience many great tips for getting the most out of the afternoon meetings.
Participants gathered in groups by both state and state district, and the great lobbying effort of 2009 for natural products began. In meetings between 15 and 30 minutes, these groups of natural products advocates educated Representatives, Senators and their respective staffs about how natural products should be part of any healthcare reform because they can save Americans tons of money in medical costs and time lost due to illness or injury; about how food safety efforts in Congress should impose high standards such as good manufacturing practices (GMPs); and how the Childhood Nutrition Act of 1966 is outdated and in need of updating to help improve school lunch nutrition. Given the recent shift in power in Congress, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) also needed some support, as participants explained the regulation has been deemed adequate by many government agencies, and the industry has helped, even pushed, further regulations such as adverse event reporting. Also in need of some protective lobbying was DHEA, which has been wrongly classified as an anabolic steroid, but it has no such effects and helps many Americans, especially older people with declining hormone levels.
The day was capped with a reception, which was attended by participants and many staffers from various Congressional offices. NPA honored numerous Congressional champions of natural products issues, including Sens. Orrin Hatch (Utah), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Jon Tester (Mont.), Tom Coburn (Okla.) and Reps. Frank Pallone (N.J.) and Jason Chaffetz (Utah).
For more information on this event and issues facing the natural products industry visit the NPA's Web site.