Compliance Program

What is the SupplySide Compliance Program?

SupplySide events are international business-to-business entities with participants from many industries and many countries. Attendees and members should be aware that not all ingredients, technologies, claims or practices are appropriate for all industries or geographies. All participants should be familiar with the laws and regulations applicable to their specific business.

The SupplySide Compliance Program provides tools to gain a greater understanding of some of the most common compliance issues within the industry and help support self-regulatory efforts. We provide compliance monitoring during the SupplySide shows, enforcement where necessary and education year-round. Our compliance policy and reviews are based upon U.S. federal regulations. Your product promotional materials should be compliant with these U.S. laws.  If you have any questions about compliance with our program, please contact [email protected].

We also offer affordable regulatory reviews, market entry advice and copy editing through our MarketReady Insights program. More information is available at www.marketreadyinsights.com or please contact us at [email protected].

With these tools, we aim to provide an environment that promotes innovation and growth within the healthy ingredients industry.

Rules for Compliance

All materials displayed at SupplySide events are subject to the SupplySide Compliance Program. This includes, but is not limited to: booth displays, package labeling and inserts, descriptions of ingredients and services, promotional materials, websites, videos or anything presented at the show.

Prohibited claims

Product information being disseminated at any SupplySide event must meet the following standards:

  • Disease claims are prohibited for dietary supplements. Promotion of a product to treat, prevent, mitigate or cure any disease or condition including but not limited to diabetes, cancer, flu, cold, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease is not permitted for dietary supplements.
  • Claims based on traditional use must clearly communicate that the sole basis for the claim is its history of use for a particular purpose.
  • Claims must be appropriate for dietary supplements and do not advertise the product as a "drug" under the FDCA.

Claims that are a high priority for FDA include (but are not limited to): weight loss, body building, sexual enhancement and products for children. For more information about claims that can be made for conventional foods and dietary supplements, click here.

SupplySide's Hemp and Cannabinoid Policy

The SupplySide Compliance Program has adopted this policy for products that contain hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids to help ensure the industry complies with existing regulations and to encourage best practices that help ensure quality and transparency. Acceptance as an exhibitor or advertiser and approval for exhibition or advertisement of any cannabinoid product at a SupplySide event is NOT a determination that the product complies with all local, state, and federal laws all of which may vary. Neither is it, nor is it intended to be, legal advice; exhibitors should always seek the advice of a qualified attorney.

Review Criteria*:
When reviewing cannabinoid products, our highest priorities are safety, transparency, truthfulness, reliability and responsibility.

  • Products cannot contain more than 0.3% THC. Products may not include THC isolate as an ingredient.
  • Disease claims and all claims explicitly rejected by FDA, e.g. chronic anxiety, are prohibited.
  • Products may not be marketed for psychoactive effect.
  • All statements must be substantiated.
  • Transparency, clarity, and truthfulness in labeling are required.
  • Responsibility and care for vulnerable populations are required.
  • Vapes and vape accessories are prohibited.
  • Devices, including patches, are required to have appropriate FDA clearance (510k, PMA, registration and/or listing).
  • Exhibit review and approval is on a product-by-product basis.


*Violation of this show policy resolution will be considered a material violation of the Show Rules and Regulations, and may result in the exhibitor’s removal from the venue at the venue's or Show Host Management’s sole and absolute discretion. 

Prohibited Ingredients

Ingredients that are banned from any use in the United States including, but not limited to: ephedra/ephedrine, masking agents, narcotics. Also prohibited are ingredients that are not appropriate for the application including, but not limited to: anabolic steroids, drug ingredients in food, beverage or dietary supplement ingredients.

Prohibited Food and Dietary Supplement ingredients that are a high priority to FDA include (but are not limited to): anabolic steroids and anabolic steroid pre-cursors, masking agents, ephedra/ephedrine, narcotics.

For more information on industry information and regulations click here.

Prohibited Use of FDA logo

The FDA logo is for the official use of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and not for use on private sector materials. To the public, such use would send a message that FDA favors or endorses a private sector organization or the organization’s activities, products, services, and/or personnel (either overtly or tacitly), which FDA does not and cannot do. Unauthorized use of the FDA logo may violate federal law and subject those responsible to civil and/or criminal liability.

For more information on the use of the FDA logo click here.

 

Compliance Monitoring

The SupplySide Compliance Team is made up of an in-house dedicated compliance team whose objective is to help make exhibitors and customers aware of non-compliance to preserve the integrity of the show floor for the benefit of exhibitors and the industry overall. We encourage all SupplySide participants to report any suspected violations.

Reporting an Issue:

If you suspect a prohibited claim or ingredient, please report it immediately to the SupplySide Compliance Team. All inquiries are anonymous and will be handled promptly. For the safety of our visitors, exhibitors and members, please do not try to directly correct the company or individual in violation. To report a compliance issue covered by this program, you can do so in the following ways:

During In-Person Events

1. Report in the mobile app: Download the mobile application for your handheld device using the QR code. In the mobile application, select the compliance link to a fill out a report.

2. Report in person: Visit the Global Health & Nutrition Network Pavilion and make an anonymous report at the info center or notify anyone wearing a white/black SupplySide host badge.

3. Report via email: Send your concern to [email protected].

 

 

Enforcement

SupplySide events are international business-to-business entities with participants from many industries and many countries. Attendees and members should be aware that not all ingredients, technologies, claims or practices are appropriate for all industries or geographies. All participants should be familiar with the laws and regulations applicable to their specific business.

Any SupplySide participant determined to be in violation of the SupplySide Compliance Program will be subject to enforcement action. While disputes regarding claims may happen, we make a good faith effort to mitigate the situation; however, enforcement action may include a meeting with SupplySide Compliance Team, suggested removal of prohibited materials; removal from SupplySide event; and/or referral to industry self-regulatory organizations or the appropriate regulatory agency.

Getting Help

If you’re not familiar with U.S. federal requirements, would like assistance with a new product introduction or need additional information about labeling, claims or studies, our MarketReady Insights program is available to help. It also provides copy editing assistance for our international exhibitors. More detail about pricing and the services it can provide are available at www.marketreadyinsights.com, or please contact us at [email protected].

Educational Resources


Education is an important part of the SupplySide Compliance Program. We will be providing educational materials to all exhibitors to outline regulatory requirements related to prohibited claims and prohibited ingredients. Because Informa Exhibitions is committed to helping industry members ensure compliance to important regulations, these educational materials will be available year-round.

Please click here for Our Claims Guidance that lists some unacceptable non-compliant claims and provides suggestions for acceptable claims.

In addition, Informa Exhibitions offers educational programs at each show related to the issue of regulatory compliance.

We encourage SupplySide participants to review materials available at the links below:

Natural Products Insider Resources

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Council for Responsible Nutrition

 

Claims Guidance

View the Claims Guidance sheet for more information regarding claims at SupplySide West.