American Kratom Association urges FDA to discuss kratom policy
- The American Kratom Association called for a public meeting with FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to discuss kratom regulations.
- The FDA has acknowledged it has not determined if kratom is dangerous, despite making unsupported claims about its safety.
- The AKA aims for the meeting to address conflicts in FDA policy and current scientific evidence, advocating for consumer access to kratom.
On September 4, 2024, the American Kratom Association (AKA) urged FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to hold a public meeting regarding the agency's regulatory policies on kratom. The AKA criticized the FDA for its longstanding bias against kratom, citing the agency's reliance on what they termed 'embarrassingly poor evidence and data' to justify restrictions on consumer access to kratom products. The FDA has previously stated in court documents that it has not determined whether kratom is dangerous, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding its safety. Furthermore, the AKA pointed out that the FDA's claims about kratom's main alkaloids posing an 'imminent hazard to public safety' are unsupported and that the information on the FDA's website is outdated and inaccurate. The AKA hopes that a public stakeholder meeting will allow for a thorough evaluation of the conflicts between the FDA's policies and current scientific understanding, involving various stakeholders including consumers, advocacy groups, and legal experts. This meeting could lead to a more informed and balanced regulatory approach to kratom, which is used safely by nearly 20 million Americans each year for health and well-being.