Despite the role being vacant for some time, the NNFA has not been silent on scientific issues. Indeed, it has been as vociferous as the other major associations, the Council for Responsible Nutrition and the American Herbal Products Association, on all issues affecting the industry - from GMPs (good manufacturing practices) and AER (adverse events reporting) to bills that threaten to restrict access to some of its members' wares.
But the recruitment of Fabricant, who has more than a decade of experience in the supplements industry and in sports nutrition in particular, is seen as an opportunity to refocus on the science at a crucial time.
Fabricant told NutraIngredients-USA.com that the organization is now seeking to be "the principal voice on some of the issues in the industry, and on the parameters of quality, safety and efficacy that were already there".
That said, the three associations do often present a united front on matters they all see as important. "If something is based on science we all have the same perspective on that."
Fabricant's primary role at the association is to serve as the principle staff voice on science, research, technology and quality issues. His other responsibilities include administering the Trulabel program and random testing program with the help of the ComPLI committee - an area in which Fabricant is well versed thanks to his most recent position as Assistant Director of Research at ConsumerLab.
The difference between the NNFA and ConsumerLab programs lies in what is done with the information: while ConsumerLab is a consumer-orientated, paid for service, he explained, TruLabel exists for the benefit of the industry. Even so, products are not submitted for testing by companies but are selected by the organization, and the results are published on NNFA's website.
NNFA is also planning to conduct some tests to evaluate the new AOAC approved methods. Although the association is not involved with these methods in a formal advisory capacity, Fabricant said that the entire industry is behind the development of quality methods.
Moreover, it is highly possible that the long-awaited and seemingly imminent good manufacturing guidelines (GMPs) will contain testing requirement.
"The proposed GMP ruling may add another layer of testing to the industry and we are excited about how we as an association are positioned by already having a testing program in place." He said that NNFA is looking to add to this program and increase its visibility and frequency.
In the past, some consumer media has propagated that dietary supplements are unregulated - a claim that the industry fiercely rejects. While not being subject to the same pre-market testing as pharmaceutical drugs, it is governed by the 1994 Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA), of which the GMPs - though lagging far behind the main body of the Act - are in fact part.
"We are a regulated industry, and hopefully the GMPs will help crystallise that."
The draft GMPs are "similar standards to the pharmaceutical industry," he said.
And although Fabricant believes science has always played an integral role in the supplements industry, it will become even more important when the GMPs come out.
Fabricant will also play a lobbying role over science-related legislation. And given his sports nutrition background, he is well versed to tackle one particular threat to the industry that comes in the form of senate bill 11137. This would regulate DHEA, a steroid, as an anabolic steroid - which the science, Fabricant said, does not support.
"It is important to see the difference between ordinary steroids - of which vitamin D is one - and anabolic steroids. It is important to recognise that anabolic steroids are not dietary supplements."
The association is also closely monitoring EU directives which are in the pipeline, since these will have an effect on US companies marketing their products overseas.
On April 4, the NNFA will hold its annual Natural Foods Day, when its members will have a chance to speak directly to the people on Capitol Hill. The annual trade show will take place in Las Vegas in July.
Now in its 70th year, NNFA is industry's oldest and largest association.