The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a leading dietary supplement and functional food industry trade association, will host its annual advocacy event “Day on the Hill” on June 10 in Washington, D.C. This occasion will bring together industry representatives and lawmakers to discuss key policy priorities, focusing on regulatory modernization, supply chain resilience and expanding consumer access to safe, science-backed nutrition products.
Legislative priorities: Transparency, clear regulatory authority
CRN members will meet with members of Congress and key staff to advocate for legislative measures, including the Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2026 (S.3677), introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin. This bill proposes a mandatory product registry at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requiring manufacturers to submit product details to a publicly searchable database to enhance transparency and compliance.
“As our industry continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that policymakers understand both the benefits our products provide and the importance of a balanced, modern regulatory framework,” said Julia Gustafson, vice president for government affairs at CRN.
“Day on the Hill gives our members a critical platform to engage directly with lawmakers on priorities like mandatory product listing, national regulatory consistency, expanded consumer access and trade policies that impact the global supply chain — policies that will strengthen trust in our industry and support public health,” Gustafson said.
Another legislative priority is the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act (H.R.7366), introduced by Rep. Nick Langworthy, which aims to reaffirm the FDA as the sole national regulator for dietary supplements. This measure seeks to prevent a patchwork of conflicting state regulations that could create confusion and increase costs for manufacturers and consumers.
CRN members will also advocate for policies allowing dietary supplements to qualify as eligible expenses under flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs). Additionally, they will address trade issues, including tariffs, supply chain disruptions and policies affecting the import and export of dietary ingredients and finished products.
Advocacy efforts for supplement industry trust
Steve Mister, president and CEO of CRN, emphasized the importance of direct engagement with lawmakers.
“There is no substitute for sitting across the table from a lawmaker and explaining, in plain terms, what your company makes, who relies on your products and what’s at stake when policy gets it wrong,” Mister said.
“When a member of Congress hears directly from an industry executive in their district — someone creating jobs and serving their constituents — it changes the conversation,” Mister said. “That’s what Day on the Hill makes possible, and it’s why these face-to-face meetings are the most powerful tool we have.”
The event underscores the industry’s commitment to fostering trust through transparency, regulatory consistency and consumer access. By advocating for these priorities, CRN aims to support public health while ensuring the industry’s global competitiveness and innovation.
