What does AKA stand for?

AKA stands for American Kratom Association - a U.S. trade and advocacy organization for the kratom industry, founded in 2014.

What does the AKA do?

Three principal program areas: legislative advocacy at federal and state levels, industry self-regulation through the GMP Standards Program, and public information about kratom and the regulatory environment.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act - a model legislative framework developed by the AKA for adoption by U.S. states. The model addresses product quality, labeling, and age restrictions. Specific provisions vary by jurisdiction.

How is the AKA funded?

Through industry membership dues and donations. Specific funding details are publicly available in the organization's regulatory filings.

Regulatory & Compliance

American Kratom Association (AKA)

At-a-glance comparison

Spec	Value
Type of organization	U.S. trade and advocacy association (501(c)(4))
Year founded	2014
Headquarters	United States
Principal programs	Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) model legislation; AKA GMP Standards Program; federal and state legislative advocacy
Funding	Industry membership dues and donations; structure varies
Vendor qualification	AKA GMP qualified vendors are independently audited and listed in the AKA vendor directory
Website	https://www.americankratom.org

What is the American Kratom Association?

The American Kratom Association is a U.S. trade and advocacy organization representing the interests of kratom manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. It was founded in 2014 in response to growing federal and state regulatory attention to kratom and now operates as an industry voice and policy actor on questions of kratom legality, product quality, and consumer information.

The AKA's principal activities cluster into three program areas: legislative advocacy (federal and state), industry self-regulation (the GMP Standards Program), and public information.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, often abbreviated KCPA, is a model legislative framework developed by the AKA for adoption by U.S. states. The model defines product-quality requirements (testing, labeling), age-restriction provisions (typically 21+), and prohibitions on adulteration. Several states have enacted KCPA-based legislation in various forms; specific provisions vary by jurisdiction.

The KCPA aims to provide a regulatory framework that addresses public-health concerns about kratom product quality while preserving consumer access to lab-tested, properly labeled product. Whether and how it does so is a matter of policy debate.

The AKA GMP Standards Program

The AKA GMP Standards Program is a voluntary, kratom-specific quality framework that defines test panels, acceptance criteria, manufacturing controls, and audit requirements for participating vendors. Vendors who satisfy the program's requirements after independent audit may identify themselves as AKA GMP qualified vendors and are listed in the AKA's vendor directory.

The program supplements rather than substitutes for FDA dietary-supplement cGMP regulation (21 CFR Part 111). It addresses kratom-specific concerns - alkaloid profile, adulteration risks, contamination from agricultural inputs - that the general supplement-cGMP framework does not specifically cover.

Advocacy and the regulatory landscape

The AKA has engaged in legislative and regulatory advocacy at both federal and state levels. The organization's response to the DEA's August 2016 notice of intent to schedule mitragynine and 7-OH is widely credited with contributing to the DEA's withdrawal of that notice in October 2016. The AKA has also engaged with state legislatures on KCPA adoption and on questions of state-level kratom and 7-OH regulation.

The AKA's positions, programs, and activities are publicly available on its website. Specific positions of the AKA on the FDA's July 2025 Schedule I recommendation for 7-OH and on the broader 7-OH regulatory question are evolving and should be verified at the time of reference.

Common questions about american kratom association (aka)

What does AKA stand for?: AKA stands for American Kratom Association - a U.S. trade and advocacy organization for the kratom industry, founded in 2014.
What does the AKA do?: Three principal program areas: legislative advocacy at federal and state levels, industry self-regulation through the GMP Standards Program, and public information about kratom and the regulatory environment.
What is the KCPA?: The Kratom Consumer Protection Act - a model legislative framework developed by the AKA for adoption by U.S. states. The model addresses product quality, labeling, and age restrictions. Specific provisions vary by jurisdiction.
What is the AKA GMP Standards Program?: A voluntary kratom-specific GMP framework that defines test panels, acceptance criteria, and audit requirements for participating vendors. Vendors who satisfy the requirements after independent audit are listed as AKA GMP qualified vendors.
How is the AKA funded?: Through industry membership dues and donations. Specific funding details are publicly available in the organization's regulatory filings.

References

American Kratom Association. https://www.americankratom.org
American Kratom Association. AKA GMP Standards Program. https://www.americankratom.org/aka-gmp-program
American Kratom Association. Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) model legislation.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2016). Withdrawal of Notice of Intent to Temporarily Place Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine into Schedule I. Federal Register, 81 FR 70652 (Oct. 12, 2016).

Important safety information:

Products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) are sold for adult use only (21+). These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The FDA has raised safety concerns regarding concentrated 7-OH products; consult a qualified healthcare professional before use. Do not operate vehicles or machinery after use. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Laws vary by state, buyers are responsible for knowing applicable law.