Organic & Natural Health Association and India’s SHEFEXIL Partner to Strengthen U.S.-India Supply Chain

The Organic & Natural Health Association and Shellac & Forest Products Export Promotion Council , an export council sponsored by India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry, have partnered to strengthen collaboration, supply chain resilience, and responsible trade between the U.S. and India for natural health products, nutraceuticals, botanicals, and functional ingredients.

The agreement is SHEFEXIL’s first strategic partnership with a U.S. trade association representing natural health products, expanding the council’s mission to strengthen confidence in India’s nutraceutical sector. The two organizations will collaborate on certifications, industry engagement, scientific exchange, and market development.

“Our partnership with the Organic & Natural Health Association creates a stronger bridge between India and the United States for science, innovation, and responsible commerce,” said Debjani Roy, PhD, executive director of SHEFEXIL. “Together, we are building a trusted global ecosystem through scientific collaboration, regulatory dialogue, and industry engagement that benefits both consumers and the natural health sector.”

Anand Swaroop, founder and president of Cepham and a member of Organic & Natural Health, will serve as lead facilitator of the partnership through the association’s working group. He described the agreement as a direct channel for long-term collaboration between each country’s natural health sectors.

“India has long sought deeper engagement with the U.S. natural products industry, but until how there has not been a formal relationship between SHEFEXIL and a U.S. trade association representing manufacturers, brands, researchers, and other industry stakeholders,” said Swaroop. “This relationship complements SHEFEXIL’s broader international initiatives by advancing scientific exchange, market development, education, and the trusted relationships that support responsible growth in both countries.”  

The partnership is Organic & Natural Health’s first international initiative under the leadership of Mark Thurston, the president of AIDP, who was elected president of the trade association recently, along with expansions of the association’s board of directors. Most recently, Gina Benninger, director of business development at Nutriience, was elected to the board, alongside members Charles G. Brown, Heather Granato, Todd A. Harrison, Chris Holland, Sandra lee, Alan Lewis, Doug Lynch, Ray Martinez, Todd Norton, and Brian Terry.

“A trusted global supply chain depends on scientific collaboration, transparency, and meaningful relationships,” said Thurston. “This initiative creates new opportunities to strengthen those foundations alongside our colleagues in India for the benefit of industry and consumers.”

So far, the two organizations have plans for executive exchanges, regulatory roundtables, scientific forums, trade missions, buyer and seller introductions, educational programming, manufacturing/research facility visits, academic exchanges, and working groups addressing emerging issues affecting the industry.

“This collaboration demonstrates what is possible when organizations unite around a common purpose,” said Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of Organic & Natural Health. “Today’s natural health challenges and opportunities extend well beyond national borders. By bringing together leaders from the United States and India, we are creating a framework for stronger scientific collaboration, more resilient supply chains, and greater consumers confidence for years to come.”

The organizations will celebrate the partnership during the Bharat Nutraverse Expo, Sept. 7-9, in New Delhi. The first joint conference in the U.S. is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2027, at Anresco NJ Labs in Middlesex, New Jersey.