Steven Tave accepts new position, to leave ODSP in March

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Steven Tave, the director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP) has accepted a new role as director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Operational Policy. Cara Welch, PhD, current deputy director of ODSP will step in as acting director on March 15, when Tave will officially start his new role. Tave has led ODSP since March of 2016.

“[The Council for Responsible Nutrition] is privileged to have had the opportunity to work closely with Mr. Tave over the last five years on initiatives to help strengthen the dietary supplement marketplace,” said Steve Mister, president and CEO of The Council For Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, D.C.), in a prepared statement. “We have valued his candor and transparency, and his willingness to consider industry perspectives when the agency made decisions affecting us. During Mr. Tave’s tenure, he presided over the elevation of ODSP from a Division to an Office, allowing for increased funding to monitor, inspect and enforce the growing dietary supplement marketplace. We commend Mr. Tave for his continued commitment to protect public health and wish him great success in his new role.”

“CRN is delighted that Dr. Cara Welch will step into the role of acting director of ODSP starting March 15,” added Mister. “We have also had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Welch over the years and witness her commitment to strengthen the current regulatory framework for dietary supplements. We look forward to working with her on a number of critical industry initiatives in the future.”