NutraWomen Wednesday: Barb Kochanowski, PhD, Senior VP Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, CHPA

Barbara Kochanowski, PhD, has made an incredible mark on Consumer Healthcare Products Association’s regulatory work, including ingredient safety and dietary supplement programs. After devoting 14 years there, CHPA is bracing for a changing of the guards as Kochanowski enters retirement. 

“Dietary supplements have so much potential. Obviously, when I started in the industry DSHEA had not yet passed and that was such a huge, huge accomplishment. I remember everybody reading through it and trying to figure out what it all meant and how it would impact the industry. And of course, it's had a tremendous impact. And so now, many years later, we're taking a look at what's worked and what isn't working. And the industry has grown tremendously–so many of the supplements we have today simply weren't with us, in the 90s and maybe weren't even envisioned. And so I hope the industry is open to keeping what works really well,” said the senior vice president of regulatory & scientific affairs, who is slated to retire this month.

Kochanowski said as prepares to leave for retirement, she hopes to see the industry continue to advocate for the necessary changes to assure consumer trust and quality products.

“It's really up to the industry to make sure we have a regulatory environment that enables those products and the consumers have high confidence. So I think it's come a tremendous amount, very, very far since the original days. But we still have to always be on the lookout for where we can do better and where we can improve.”

Looking to retirement, Kochanowski said she looks forward to spending more time with family, relaxing and volunteering.