UL and HRG offer new options for ‘efficient and affordable’ uploading of product labels to Supplement OWL
The Supplement OWL (the Online Wellness Library) is intended to boost transparency in the industry by providing a more complete picture of the marketplace. It serves as a resource for regulators, retailers, and industry, and can be accessed by anyone using the internet.
The new options, which are available for a nominal per label fee, are aimed at reducing the internal workload and to speed up the process.
“As the Supplement OWL gains traction, there’s growing energy about the long-term potential for the registry to raise the bar for our industry,” said Duffy MacKay, N.D., senior vice president, scientific & regulatory affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), which is spearheading the industry initiative.
“When companies provide feedback, the one concern we hear is that they’re worried about the staff time involved in the initial upload process. We’re grateful to UL and HRG for coming up with a way to cut down on the time involved, and provide the manufacturer with a reliable, accurate solution.”
UL is the global independent safety science company responsible for developing and administering the Supplement OWL. HRG is a partner in category management, business strategy, analytics and brand marketing services focused on consumer healthcare at retail.
Tiers
The registry allows users to access the registry through the internet and to search product entries by brand name, ingredient, health category and a host of other options. The registry provides ingredient listings, serving sizes, a copy of the Supplement Facts box, and other information about the supplements.
For a nominal per label fee, UL and HRG are offering to populate the required data fields in Tier 1 of the Supplement OWL, using information provided by the product manufacturer. Companies will still be involved in the process, including sharing edits (as needed) and providing final approval, said CRN in a press release. But now, the more tedious elements of the label upload process will be greatly reduced, allowing companies to focus on fine-tuning each entry before it is made public and allowing in-house staff to more effectively utilize their own time.
“Taking advantage of the label upload service provided by UL or HRG is a great way for busy companies to get started with the Supplement OWL and ensure their brands are represented,” said Dr MacKay.
[A second tier includes additional information that may be voluntarily submitted by each dietary supplement manufacturer. Manufacturers have the option to determine who will have access permission to view the information submitted in Tier 2.]
A condition of CRN membership
CRN member companies will be required, as a condition of membership, to participate in the Supplement OWL in the New Year.
The registry has been endorsed several industry associations and organizations, including the United Natural Products Alliance, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, and the Natural Products Association, as well as the American Botanical Council and NSF International.
