Executive director of the U.S.-China Health Products Association (USCHPA), Jeff Crowther, discussed the achievements that the non-profit organization experienced in 2014. Among the highlights for USCHPA in 2014, Mr. Crowther underscored the following accomplishments:
 
1.     USCHPA organized the “China International Nutrition and Health Industry Summit” in Beijing, which brought together 60 global companies to learn and share the latest on China’s dietary supplement industry.
 
2.     USCHPA received “Best of 2014” recognition from Nutritional Outlook Magazine for its regulatory advocacy measures and the many services the association provides.
 
3.     USCHPA was invited to meet with China’s National People’s Congress to discuss the issues and future direction of China’s regulations for dietary supplements.
 
4.     The organization submitted a report to China’s FDA on the agencies’ proposed draft regulations for nutritional supplements.
 
5.     It also published “Export Potential Report” for U.S. Industry, which highlighted a loss of over $8 billion in potential exports, which would have created 2,700 jobs in the U.S. These loses were contributed to China’s overly restrictive regulatory environment, USCHPA noted.
 
6.     USCHPA increased its membership by over 20%.
 
7.     The organization traveled to Tel Aviv as a guest of Israel’s government to give a lecture and dialog with companies looking to enter China’s marketplace.
 
8.     USCHPA launched its Chinese language Health Weekly e-newsletter, which brings global news to China’s growing dietary supplement industry.
 
9.     It launched its WeChat Social Media platform in China, which both educates and promotes the dietary supplement industry to China’s consumers and industry leaders.
 
10.  It initiated a planning phase to hold a Probiotic and Omega Fatty Acid conference in Shanghai during 2015.
 
“After years of the association and other industry groups sharing information and encouraging China’s FDA to work towards a more open and transparent system for dietary supplements based on notification, 2014 saw the first steps taken by China to move the system in that direction. There is still much to accomplish, but at least movement has begun,” said Mr. Crowther.