Every industry talks about advocacy. Far fewer industries show up in person to do it.
That is what makes the Natural Products Association’s (NPA) annual Fly-In Day such a powerful and increasingly important tradition for companies across the dietary supplement and natural products sector.
Each year, manufacturers, retailers, ingredient suppliers and service providers from across the country travel to Washington, D.C., to meet directly with members of Congress and their staff. The event, which will take place on May 12, has become the industry’s premier advocacy gathering and a cornerstone of NPA’s policy program.
But Fly-In Day is more than a networking opportunity or a day of meetings on Capitol Hill. For participating companies, it is one of the most effective ways to protect consumer access to supplements, shape public policy, and ensure that lawmakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions.
Washington, D.C., runs on relationships. Legislators and their staff are constantly navigating complex policy questions across dozens of industries. If they do not hear directly from the companies and professionals affected by their decisions, they will hear from someone else.
That is why Fly-In Day matters.
During the event, NPA members meet face-to-face with congressional offices to explain how federal policies affect the dietary supplement marketplace, the businesses that power it, and the millions of Americans who use these products every day.
These meetings provide lawmakers with practical insight. A retailer can explain how proposed legislation would affect product availability on store shelves. An ingredient supplier can describe supply-chain realities. A manufacturer can speak about the compliance burden of new regulatory proposals.
When policymakers hear directly from the people responsible for creating jobs and delivering products to consumers, the conversation changes. They suddenly appreciate that abstract policy proposals have real economic and public health consequences.
For many attendees, especially those new to advocacy, Fly-In Day is also an introduction to how federal policymaking works.
The day begins with briefings and advocacy training led by NPA policy experts. Participants receive background on the key legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry, as well as guidance on how to communicate effectively with policymakers.
This preparation ensures that every meeting on Capitol Hill is focused, informative and productive. Participants learn how to present their perspectives clearly, answer questions from congressional staff, and explain complex regulatory topics in plain English.
For companies that operate in a heavily regulated space like dietary supplements, this kind of policy literacy is invaluable. Understanding how Congress and federal agencies operate helps companies anticipate regulatory trends and engage constructively in policy debates.
One of the most important aspects of Fly-In Day is the signal it sends. Policymakers notice when dozens of industry representatives walk the halls of Congress on the same day, delivering consistent messages. The event demonstrates that the natural products industry is organized, engaged and committed to participating in the democratic process.
That unity is especially important at a time when the industry faces a growing number of policy challenges, ranging from federal regulatory proposals to state-level legislation that could restrict access to certain supplement products.
A coordinated presence on Capitol Hill ensures that policymakers hear directly from responsible companies that prioritize quality, compliance and consumer safety.
At its core, NPA’s Fly-In Day is about protecting consumer choice.
Dietary supplements are used by millions of Americans as part of their daily health routines. Yet many policymakers are unfamiliar with how the industry operates or the regulatory framework governing supplements.
Through meetings on Capitol Hill, NPA members can explain the role supplements play in preventive health and wellness and highlight the importance of maintaining a regulatory environment that supports innovation while protecting consumers.
These conversations also help policymakers understand the economic footprint of the natural products industry. The sector supports thousands of businesses, many of them small and mid-sized companies along with a nationwide network of retailers and suppliers.
While Fly-In Day is a single event on the calendar, its impact extends throughout the year.
For many congressional offices, the meeting with an NPA member on Fly-In Day becomes the starting point for an ongoing relationship. When policy questions arise later, staff know who to call for industry insight.
For companies, those relationships provide an invaluable channel for staying informed about policy developments and ensuring their perspectives are considered during the legislative process.
Advocacy is often viewed as a cost of doing business. In reality, it is an investment capable of yielding exceptional returns.
Companies that participate in Fly-In Day are investing in the long-term health of the natural products industry. By taking the time to engage with policymakers, they help shape a regulatory environment that allows responsible companies to thrive and American consumers to maintain access to the products they rely on to support their health.
In Washington, D.C., decisions are made every day that affect the future of dietary supplements. The companies that choose to show up, tell their story and build relationships with policymakers are the ones most likely to influence those decisions.
And that is exactly why NPA’s Fly-In Day continues to bring industry leaders back to Capitol Hill year after year.
Kyle Turk is vice president of government affairs with the Natural Products Association (NPA). Founded in 1936 and based in Washington, D.C., NPA is the nation’s largest and oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to the natural products industry.
