The Trump Administration’s tariffs raised economic questions that rippled throughout the industry, and for GOED as a global organization, the challenges were obvious throughout our membership as omega-3 oil suppliers and finished product manufacturers attempted to make solid business decisions in a constantly-shifting economic environment. The resulting market dynamics have led to supply chain adjustments, such as products that were formerly destined for the United States now being sent to Europe or other regions.
The current administration has also brought with it an interesting dichotomy in terms of U.S. leadership’s attitude toward the supplement industry. While it’s widely accepted that this is the most pro-supplement administration in decades, there have been questions about the scientific substantiation of some of its decisions, and this begs the question of what the impact on various health policies may be. The Make America Healthy Again initiative is promising in theory, but the devil is in the details, and as we close the year, there are more questions than answers. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which were supposed to be released this year, have now been delayed until early 2026, and reports are that the document has been completely rewritten, although details are scarce and it’s unlikely that there will be a specific mention of EPA and DHA.
In addition, a DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) for omega-3s in the United States and Canada, which has long been a goal for the industry, is also caught up in the larger political quagmire. As background, last year, the joint U.S.-Canadian DRI Working Group announced there would be a macronutrient review, which included fats (and therefore omega-3 fatty acids). The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which conducts systematic reviews as one of the first steps in the DRI process, issued requests for information on omega-3s and cardiovascular and child development outcomes, which GOED submitted. The first of its reports, on polyunsaturated fatty acids and childhood development, was published a few months ago, and was very disappointing in terms of missing research and inaccurate conclusions. GOED filed a strong rebuttal response, but it remains to be seen if changes will be made. The government shutdown also slowed the DRI process; the additional draft reports have not yet been made available for review, and a DRI committee has not yet been formed, so it’s unlikely the current proposed timeline—with a final DRI expected in 2029—will remain in effect. There have also been rumors that the administration is leveraging political power to weigh in on the DRI committee members.
A strong year for omega-3 supply
In supply chain news in 2025, fish oil supply continues to be a focus, as the 2023 cancellation of the Peruvian anchovy fishing season—representing the key supply to the supplement industry—is still fresh in the omega-3 industry’s memory. A strong rebound in 2024 eased supply constraints, and for 2025, it’s been a mixed bag. The first season yielded a very high quota (3 million metric tons), but the EPA/DHA ratio of the harvest was “balanced” (15% of each) rather than having a more typical 18:12 or higher EPA profile, which fits better with supplement industry needs. The second season, which is ongoing as we close the year, has seen a more traditional EPA:DHA profile, but the quota is smaller than initially expected. GOED continues to stress to members and industry the importance of cultivating a variety of EPA and DHA sources to ensure the long-term stability of the category. This includes non-fish sources like algae, krill or calanus, but also other fish oil options such as sardine or tuna oil, which have lower EPA and DHA content but which still provide a quality source for the industry.
Consensus panel on omega-3 recommendation underway
In an effort to create a scientifically-based intake recommendation for healthy adults, GOED has commissioned a panel of experts to systematically analyze the currently available science to arrive at a recommendation. The panel includes renowned omega-3 researchers, as well as clinicians, and GOED expects the recommendation to be available early next year. The plan is to publish the review in a peer-reviewed journal and debut the recommendation in a public launch at the American Society for Nutrition conference next July.
GOED is also planning to publish a LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) white paper to help industry understand how to judge LCAs across omega-3 sources. The project, carried out in conjunction with sustainability consulting firm LRQA/EcoEngineers, includes a proposed high level framework for omega-3 LCAs as well as standardized best practices, practical tools and implementation guidance for industry.
Developments around the globe
On the global front, the European Commission’s ruling on mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) was expected this year but has been delayed several times with no planned vote scheduled as of now. The proposed ruling is relatively favorable for industry (see background details here), but there are unanswered questions around blended products, requirements for crude oil to meet the same MOAH levels and continued challenges with testing lab consistency and natural interferences.
As the year draws to a close, the other issue on the radar is a rumored proposed change to how cross border e-commerce (CBEC) being sold into China functions. New regulations are supposedly about to come into effect that would require CBEC companies to register with GACC (China’s General Administration of Customs) to continue to sell in China, a regulation that will impact GOED members in multiple countries.
Want to know more about omega-3s?
Join GOED (the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s) and the omega-3 community at the GOED Exchange 2026, the premiere biennial conference for the omega-3 industry. The event takes place in Singapore on March 17 to 19 and offers a comprehensive agenda of business, regulatory, sustainability and scientific topics, as well as quality networking opportunities and the chance to engage with thought leaders throughout the global omega-3 industry.
