New members for IADSA
producers are about to be established and join IADSA, the
International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplements Associations.
Three national trade associations representing dietary supplement producers are about to be established and join IADSA, the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplements Associations.
The three associations represent Hong Kong, Poland and Hungary, and their addition will bring IADSA's current membership to 38 associations representing more than 9,000 manufacturers and distributors of vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements, an estimated 75 per cent of the global industry. The international market for dietary supplements is estimated to be worth around $40 billion (€45.5bn), nearly 30 per cent of the nutrition products market.
"All of this has happened in the four years since we created IADSA" said chairman Randy Dennin. "IADSA fulfils a unique role in helping to ensure sensible and harmonious international food regulations. National controls are not enough if the world's consumers are to have equal access to the choice of food supplements and if producers are to meet that requirement efficiently and safely. It is IADSA's task to represent the views of national associations and their members in shaping global policies that affect dietary supplements and in driving for workable and responsible regulations."
As a result, Dennin said, IADSA has earned a seat at the debating table of the main initiators of global food policy and regulations such as Codex Alimentarius. To ensure that the global industry speaks with one voice, IADSA is actively encouraging the creation of dietary supplement associations wherever there are gaps at national and regional levels and is supporting them with guidance on procedures and exchange of experience.
IADSA provides an important overview of the industry, identifying national and cultural differences and needs. It alerts government officials and the supplements industry to trends, changes and proposed regulations through a monthly news bulletin which reports developments at global, regional and national levels. Its regional conferences bring together expert representatives at the highest levels to share experiences and formulate opinion on the science and the regulations which national governments and member trade associations can use in understanding and influencing proposed regulations.
