VIVAZEN® Launches Safe Shelves Initiative to Help Protect Consumers and Retailers from Illegal 7-OH and Other Synthetic Drugs
Industry-leading program promotes transparency, independent testing, and education to distinguish legal botanicals from illegal synthetic drugs
VIVAZEN®, the nation’s leading botanical wellness brand, announced the launch of the Safe Shelves Initiative, a new industry-leading effort designed to help consumers and retailers identify legal, high-quality botanical products and distinguish them from the illegal synthetic drugs, including 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and related compounds, masquerading as natural wellness products. The initiative follows the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) decision to classify 7-OH and three related substances (pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16) as Schedule I drugs and builds upon it to help retailers protect their customers by removing dangerous synthetic drugs and adulterated botanicals off their shelves.
The Safe Shelves Initiative is designed to serve as a resource to businesses across America to ensure products sold on their shelves are compliant and legal, while avoiding consumer and retailer confusion. The goal of Safe Shelves is to provide a centralized repository of information about products that have been independently tested for the presence of 7-OH and other synthetic drugs. Additionally, Safe Shelves will be a one-stop shop for educational resources to identify natural botanical products as well as tools to help retailers reduce the risk of unknowingly buying and selling unlawful products that could subject them to criminal liability. As outlined in the DEA’s emergency scheduling order, products containing 7-OH and other illegal drugs must be pulled from shelves as early as August 5, 2026.
