May 26, 2010

FDA Needs More Money – Not Power – Industry Associations Claim

In a Senate Special Committee on Aging meeting being held today, dietary supplement association leaders will argue that the industry is adequately regulated, but that the FDA needs more money to enforce the laws DSHEA enacted in 1994.

This hearing dovetails with the reintroduction of legislation by Senators Orrin Hatch (R–UT) and Tom Harkin (D–IA) from 2003, requesting $20 million in funding to implement some of the enforcement powers given to the FDA in DSHEA.

The legislation, called The Dietary Supplement Full Implementation and Enforcement Act of 2010, is intended to address the concerns brought up by Senator McCain (R–AZ) in his poorly worded and highly opposed bill (S. 3002) without being burdensome to an industry with an impeccable safety record through self–regulation.

In addition, if enacted, the legislation would require the FDA to report to congress each year on their regulation efforts in the dietary supplement industry. Many experts in the leading natural health associations welcome this, seeing it as an opportunity to clearly demonstrate the fact that dietary supplements are, in general, safe and healthy products.

Currently, it is unclear how much traction this bill will receive in congress, as it will be competing with many other hot-button topics. We will, of course, be following this bill as it develops, and bring you updates as they arise.

As always, if you are interested in supporting this legislation, we encourage you to find your representative using the links on the right, and to contact them letting them know your opinion on this important matter.