Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, MD, has introduced the Dietary Supplement Listing Act, which would require dietary supplement manufacturers to register their products with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This mandatory product listing would capture product names, complete ingredient panels, electronic labels, allergen disclosures, and any health or structure/function claims. Similar legislation, supported by Sen. Dick Durbin, has been introduced in prior sessions of Congress but has not advanced.
Dexter, a practicing physician, maintains that the legislation is necessary because many consumers believe dietary supplements are already reviewed for safety, while regulators currently lack fundamental information about the products available in the marketplace. She presents the proposal as a means to enhance transparency, strengthen oversight, and better safeguard public health.
Industry Reactions
Industry stakeholders are divided. The Natural Products Association (NPA) strongly opposes the bill, asserting that FDA already possesses sufficient authority and enforcement tools to regulate supplements and remove unsafe products from the market. NPA cautions that a centralized electronic registry could encourage litigation over technical compliance issues, increasing legal exposure for responsible firms and diverting resources away from research, innovation, and quality initiatives.
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) also opposes this iteration of the act. Although AHPA is not categorically opposed to mandatory listing, the association contends that proponents have not clearly demonstrated how the measure would materially benefit consumers or significantly strengthen FDA’s ability to address adulterated or drug-spiked products. AHPA is especially concerned that the bill does not include targeted protections or accommodations for smaller businesses.
Other organizations endorse the proposal. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) maintains that a mandatory listing requirement would increase transparency regarding which supplements are on the market and what they contain, thereby providing both consumers and FDA with more complete information for oversight. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) likewise supports mandatory product listing as a mechanism to enhance accountability and modernize the regulatory framework for a fast-growing, rapidly evolving sector.
