NPA calls on members to oppose Dietary Supplement Labeling Act

WASHINGTON — The Natural Products Association on Thursday launched a grassroots campaign to oppose the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act, recently introduced in Congress by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and is urging its more than 1,900 members to ask their legislators to oppose the legislation by sending them a letter at NPAinfo.org/Durbin.

According to the association, the bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to create a list of ingredients and proprietary blends of ingredients that “could cause potentially serious adverse events.”

"This overly broad language takes the regulation of supplements well beyond the current, effective rules governing the industry,” the NPA stated.

Durbin cited the issue of energy drinks and foods masquerading as dietary supplements when introducing the legislation. NPA executive director and CEO John Gay responded, “The NPA supports actions by the [Food and Drug Administration] to hold accountable those who violate the law, and we’ve done our part through self-regulatory activities to ensure accuracy, quality and safety in the dietary supplement industry. ... The U.S. supplement industry has an excellent safety record, and burdensome, duplicative new regulations are not needed."

“It may appear that this proposal has an uphill climb in this Congress, but it is important that we do not let bad bills get any traction," Gay added. "If we do not make our position known, we could find ourselves facing a bill with 30 co-sponsors.”