Natural Supplements and Products Under Assault

The start of the 112th Congress marks the beginning of renewed efforts to over-regulate natural supplements and products. For example, the ideas contained in the McCain bill, such as a pre-market approval requirement for dietary supplements, remain in play; and there are those, particularly in the Senate, who would revive the FTC powers proposal. Legislation involving categories of supplements like sports supplements and DHEA is another real possibility.

There are also the activities of Congressional committees. It was the Senate Aging Committee that asked the GAO to perform their investigation of the supplement industry. The report served as the centerpiece of a 2010 hearing, and follow-up hearings are always possible in 2011. We all need to stay vigilant to these threats.

What You Can Do Now

We must educate both new and returning members of Congress so that they better understand dietary supplements when they make decisions that impact us. The more your representatives and senators hear about the value of supplements from their constituents, the better.

If you would like to send an email to your elected officials, just go to the NPA's Action Alert page. You will find a letter you can send to your members of Congress to open the door of communication with them. If you wish, you may add a line or two about your involvement with natural products.

Thank you for your advocacy with Congress.