On Feb. 18, it was announced that FDA’s Director of the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP), Steven Tave, has left the position, and will move on to serve as the FDA’s Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Operational Policy in March.
 
Tave served in his prior position since it was created in March 2016; previously, the ODSP’s responsibilities were those of the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs. Tave will be replaced in an acting role by Dr. Cara Welch, who previously held FDA positions since joining the agency in 2014.
 
Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) President and CEO Steve Mister weighed in on Tave’s tenure with positive remarks, as well as a positive outlook on Welch’s appointment.
 
“While CRN is saddened to hear that Steven Tave is leaving his position as director of the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP), we congratulate Mr. Tave on his new position in the Office of Regulatory Affairs at FDA. CRN is privileged to have had the opportunity to work closely with Mr. Tave over the last five years on initiatives to help strengthen the dietary supplement marketplace,” Mister said. “We have valued his candor and transparency, and his willingness to consider industry perspectives when the agency made decisions affecting us. During Mr. Tave’s tenure, he presided over the elevation of ODSP from a Division to an Office, allowing for increased funding to monitor, inspect, and enforce the growing dietary supplement marketplace. We commend Mr. Tave for his continued commitment to protect public health and wish him great success in his new role.”
 
“CRN is delighted that Dr. Cara Welch will step into the role of acting director of ODSP starting March 15. We have also had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Welch over the years and witness her commitment to strengthen the current regulatory framework for dietary supplements. We look forward to working with her on a number of critical industry initiatives in the future,” Mister continued.