The Council for Responsible Nutrition-International (CRN-I), the international arm of the U.S.-based Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), announced a new dues structure associated with more member benefits, making CRN-I membership more accessible to a broader range of companies.

According to CRN-I Chairman Tyler Whitehead, vice president and general counsel, Nu Skin Enterprises Inc., “The dietary supplement industry continues to rapidly expand into new markets, with more consumers worldwide seeking to understand the scientifically proven benefits of dietary supplements. As more and more companies participate on a global scale it is vital that our entire industry increases its scientific educational efforts, and we believe that CRN-I is poised to lead that charge.” 

Annual membership fees begin at $1,000 (U.S.) for basic membership, going to $10,000 (U.S.) for those companies who wish to have a board-level role.

“By creating a membership level that is very affordable, CRN-I is giving more companies the opportunity to engage in its initiatives and to help increase momentum in the scientific arena,” said Jim Griffiths, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and international affairs at CRN-I. “CRN-I is addressing many dietary supplement and functional food issues worldwide with a renewed energy and determination, and I look forward to more companies joining our efforts. With a broader membership, our platform will have increased visibility and impact globally.”

Companies who join CRN-I at the $1,000 level are entitled to the following benefits: one complimentary registration for the annual CRN-I Scientific Symposium and additional discounted registrations to the event for others in the company; access to a CRN-I quarterly newsletter; use of the CRN-I membership logo on company websites; and immediate access to CRN-I proceedings or other CRN-I publications.

Companies who join at the $10,000 level receive a seat on the Managing Board. Board members elect the CRN-I officers and help shape the association’s strategic direction and priorities and content for the annual scientific symposium. In addition, these companies receive three complimentary registrations for the annual scientific symposium as well as the other benefits provided to all members.

CRN-I is offering free membership to academicians (employed full-time by an educational institution and who are not working for companies in the industry) and regulators. Members at this level will be given consideration as speakers for CRN-I’s scientific symposium and other potential events, as well as all the benefits of basic CRN-I membership, including complimentary registration to the scientific symposium, newsletter and access to publications.

“As the international arm of CRN, CRN-I’s mission is to provide science-based information to regulators, health care professionals, and the media—particularly those outside the U.S.— supporting the safety and benefit of dietary ingredients and dietary/food supplements and promoting sound nutrition and food safety policies,” Dr. Griffiths said. “CRN-I achieved new successes in 2014 with its fifth annual scientific symposium held in Brisbane, Australia, in October, convening international regulators and decision-makers with industry and publishing a report in the European Journal of Nutrition. CRN-I is poised for even bigger and better activities going forward, including the 2015 symposium in Kronberg, Germany, coinciding with the meetings of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU).”