ASA’s policy priorities guide where the association commits member attention, staff capacity, and external engagement. They apply a consistent set of principles while allowing specific positions to respond to the law, evidence, jurisdiction, and record of each issue.
Policy principles
ASA supports policy that:
- protects consumers through clear, enforceable requirements and credible oversight;
- distinguishes responsible practice from unlawful or deceptive conduct;
- uses scientific evidence appropriate to the question and claim;
- provides workable pathways for lawful products and responsible innovation;
- assigns obligations to the parties able to control them;
- improves regulatory clarity and consistency;
- supports accurate labeling and communication;
- preserves lawful consumer access and competition;
- allows authorities and responsible businesses to identify and address material risk;
- accounts for implementation, small-business impact, and unintended effects.
These principles do not predetermine ASA’s position on every proposal.
Priority 1 — Effective oversight and enforcement
ASA supports public oversight that identifies responsible market participants, prioritizes material risk, and uses available authority consistently. Policy should improve the quality and timeliness of information available to regulators without creating data collection that has no defined use or protection.
Issue work may address market visibility, inspection and enforcement resources, responsible-party identification, adverse-event systems, recall effectiveness, and coordination across agencies.
Priority 2 — Clear and modern regulatory pathways
Rules should state what information is required, how it will be assessed, what standard applies, and how a party can resolve uncertainty. Regulatory pathways should account for scientific development and established safety while preserving the authority needed to address risk.
Issue work may address new dietary ingredient processes, ingredient identity, administrative procedure, electronic submissions, guidance clarity, and transition periods.
Priority 3 — Quality, identity, and supply-chain integrity
Responsible companies need requirements and tools that support identity, specifications, supplier controls, manufacturing, laboratory practice, traceability, complaint handling, and corrective action. Oversight should focus on practices that materially affect product quality and consumer protection.
Issue work may address current good manufacturing practice, analytical methods, economically motivated adulteration, import controls, laboratory competence, traceability, and quality-system expectations.
Priority 4 — Evidence-based claims and consumer communication
Consumers should be able to understand what a product contains, how it is intended to be used, and what evidence supports material claims. Rules and enforcement should address deceptive or unsupported communication while allowing truthful, appropriately qualified information.
Issue work may address labeling, advertising, structure/function claims, digital commerce, endorsements, influencer disclosures, substantiation, mandatory statements, and accessibility of safety information.
Priority 5 — Safety information and risk communication
Safety systems work best when information is relevant, reportable, interpretable, and routed to the parties able to act. Public communication should distinguish a signal, allegation, investigation, association, and established causal conclusion.
Issue work may address serious adverse-event reporting, signal evaluation, vulnerable populations, interactions, recalls, emerging evidence, and crisis communication.
Priority 6 — Coordinated federal and state policy
State action can address a local need, but inconsistent requirements can also confuse consumers and complicate quality and labeling systems. ASA evaluates the purpose and evidence for each proposal and supports coordination where consistency improves outcomes.
Issue work may address ingredient restrictions, age-related measures, retailer duties, labeling, environmental rules, and proposals that overlap federal regulation.
Priority 7 — Responsible international engagement
International standards and national rules influence trade, ingredient access, evidence requirements, and consumer communication. ASA participates where the matter is relevant to its U.S. mission, members, and expertise, and works with qualified organizations when local context is necessary.
How priorities become positions
A priority is not a statement on every bill, regulation, or enforcement matter. ASA publishes a position only after the defined review and approval process. Position records identify the exact issue and should be read in their dated context.
Policy review cycle
ASA reviews its priorities at least annually and when a material change in law, science, market practice, or member need warrants. Changes receive governing approval and an effective date. Prior versions remain available when necessary to understand an older record.
Review the current record
For a policy question tied to a specific jurisdiction or deadline, contact policy affairs.