Inside the NPA's influence on supplement policy on Capitol Hill

Jim Emme, CEO of NOW Health Group and and chairman for the Natural Products Association (NPA), was awarded Nutritional Outlook's 2025 Best of the Industry award for Industry Leader.

In the final part of this interview, Emme outlines the strategic priorities and advocacy efforts of the NPA. Getting bipartisan support for policies is crucial for success, he explains, as is building relationships with policymakers in Washington over the years and administrations. "You got to have a seat at the table, or else you'll be on the menu," Emme states.

Transcript

Sebastian Krawiec: You touched on it a little bit, but, obviously very divisive time politically. But as you mentioned MAHA, some of these representatives, like Dr. Oz, people involved in the administration, they're rather receptive to the industry. So I wonder if you can kind of talk about it, because, as you mentioned, you've been recently appointed chairman of NPA’s board of directors. You kind of help guide priorities for NPA’s advocacy. Can you talk about particular moment, the opportunity it presents.

Jim Emme: Yeah, good question. I'll spend momentarily just to share with you. A lot of people say, Well, why NPA? NOW has been a member of NPA and NNFA, gosh, since 1973, 1974 and Elwood Richard, our founder, and his brother set up the first Standards Committee in NPA. So we've had a legacy with them for a long, long time. And, you know, I tell people that you should join whatever trade group you feel best supports your business and if it supports your business strategy and it aligns with your values, great. Some of the trade groups, we've been in a couple of them, and they just didn't have much for us because we're in there with Bayer or Monsanto, and those guys don't care about us, and it's incongruent with our values. And with NPA, probably the biggest deal has been our longest history. But the advantage we get with Dr. Daniel Fabricant and the team there is the history, not just on the natural side. Dr Fabricant’s, PhD, is pharmacognosy. He was studied under Dr. Farnsworth, who, 30, 40, 50 years ago, was one of the premier botany medicine individuals in the nation. Jim Duke was another one who did very, very well. He didn't have a PhD, but he was solid. I could go on and on. Tyler Varro at Purdue. And NPA really, really has its roots with those groups.