Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010

updated 3/11/10

On February 4, 2010, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Byron Dorgan (D- ND) introduced legislation that would radically rewrite the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) to give FDA additional powers over retailers and suppliers in the dietary supplements industry. The Natural Products Association opposes this legislation and has urged its members to weigh in with their Senators. The message has been getting through as McCain and Dorgan reportedly have backed off their bill, but NPA members should continue to let their Senators know their opposition to S. 3002 to dissuade other Senators or Representatives from taking it up.

Breaking News:

NPA Welcomes Senate Deal on S.3002 (3/11/10)
Officials at the Natural Products Association (NPA), the leading U.S. trade organization for manufacturers, retailers and distributors of natural products, are "pleased" with the recent agreement between industry proponents Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Byron Dorgan (D- ND) regarding McCain and Dorgan's recently co-sponsored Dietary Safety Supplement Act (S.3002). More...

Senators reach agreement to move forward on legislation to govern dietary supplements (3/11/10, Associated Press)
Stricter government oversight of dietary supplements is moving closer thanks to an agreement among senators to include guidelines in a food safety bill. Four key areas of "common ground" are outlined in a letter sent by Sens. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, and Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, to Sen. Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Read more...

Just Added:S. 3002 Informational Flyer for sharing with consumers
Consumer sheet: "Could your dietary supplements be banned?"
Retailers: Click the image above to access this .pdf file. Print the file or link it to your web site and share this information with your customers:

Also, if you missed the conference call on s.3002 held for NPA members on Friday March 5, you can click here to download and listen to the event. (to listen, simply click the orange arrow and select "view/listen")

Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010

Read the complete bill here.

NPA Member Communication

Where Does S. 3002 Stand Today? (NPA Member Update, March 8, 2010)
Senator McCain has told our Congressional champion Sen. Orrin Hatch that he intends to back away from S. 3002, and work with Hatch on amendments to the Food Safety Bill (S. 510) and the DSHEA full implementation legislation. McCain will not push any of the provisions of S. 3002 that we objected to, but will support S. 510's language on recall and registration... Members: Read more.

New Legislation Poses Threat to DSHEA
On February 3, 2010, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced that he would be introducing legislation that would amend the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) additional powers over retailers and suppliers in the dietary supplements industry. The Natural Products Association is reviewing McCain’s bill, which is cosponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and offers an initial analysis regarding the impact of the legislation on the industry. Read a brief description of the provisions of the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010.

Don't Let Congress Take Away Your Supplements (e-mail to members, 2/19/10)
"On February 4, 2010, Senators John McCain and Byron Dorgan introduced S. 3002, the "Dietary Supplement Safety Act." This legislation would mandate that every dietary supplement would have to go through a brand new process of government review in order to stay on the market... The supposed purpose of the bill is to make dietary supplements "safer," which is ironic because dietary supplements already have an excellent safety record. It also ignores the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration already have the powers they need to police the market. Click here to send a note in opposition to S. 3002 directly to your two Senators or use the information on the website to write a personal letter..." Read the complete letter here.

News Releases and Announcements

NPA Questions Potential Threat to DSHEA
In response to legislation announced by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and the US Anti-Doping Agency, John Gay, executive director and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA), the oldest and largest trade association representing retailers and manufacturers of dietary supplements and other natural products, issued the following statement… Read more.

Defending DSHEA
NPA Testimony to the U.S. Senate, September 29, 2009
The Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Sept. 29, to examine issues surrounding steroids being illegally marketed as body building dietary supplements. Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., interim executive director and CEO of NPA, as well as vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, presented testimony.

Click the image to view the complete session

Take Action
If the Dietary Supplement Safety Act, S. 3002 passes, it will amend the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and have severe consequences for both suppliers and retailers.

Tell Your Senators to OPPOSE S. 3002, the Dietary Supplement Safety Act.
Stay informed about this issue. Visit www.SaveOurSupplements.org.

Retailers: Share this information with your customers:
S. 3002 Informational Flyer for sharing with consumers

Consumer sheet: "Could your dietary supplements be banned?"
Click the image above to access this .pdf file. Print the file or link it to your web site and share this information with your customers.