A legislator's vision, destined to ...

A legislator's vision, destined to become a bill and perhaps flat a law, must travel down a prolonged and tortuous road before the average consumer exigencys to adapt to it. chiefly bills, despite being introduced with abundant ballyhoo by their sponsors, not at any time make it onto a hearing calendar or disclosed of committee before their lives are cross short by the end of a congressional session.

in the same manner when we at the National Nutritional viandss Association (NNFA) hear that legislators are proposing changes to dietary addition regulations, we take it seriously--even although we know that proposed changes won't flow easily. To needlessly alarm our members or consumer about a threat that's unlikely to materialize would be as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but irresponsible and counterproductive. Given that words immediately preceding [i]or[/i] following I want to alert you to perhaps the single most numerous credible threat the supplement industry has faced since the Dietary addition Health and Education Act (DSHEA)--the federal oversight law for dietary supplements--was passed in 1994

In the past not many months, two separate Senate hearings that focused primarily upon the herbal product ephedra have been broadly critical of the adequacy of DSHEA in regard to consumer health and safety. During the latest hearing, held in October 2002 Sen Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said, "It's clear to me that DSHEA doesn't secure American consumers." As he had in a previous hearing in July 2002 concerning ephedra and weight los Durbin outlined gradations he would take, including modifying the rife definition of supplement categories "to highlight the differences between vitamins and minerals, powerful herbal products that act like put drugs intos and animal derivatives."

Depending in succession your perspective, some of these suggestions may have the appearance reasonable to you. Some smooth seem reasonable to us. What is unreasonable is the suggestion that circulating regulations are inadequate, and more legislation is lacked The problem isn't the law itself, on the other hand the implementation of that law by the agency of its chief regulatory body, the US bread and Drug Administration (FDA). calm Sen. Durbin, who was unstinting in his criticism of the dietary postscript industry, recognized that the FDA is taking too little action too late.

on the other hand herein lies a peculiar belief of legislators everywhere: If a law isn't being to the full implemented because a regulatory corpse is either unable (due to lack of funds) or unwilling (due to philosophical or political differences) to implement it, then more legislation be in want ofs to be passed. Attempts to address the issue at increasing funding or compelling an agency to act are typically abandoned in favor of more legislation.

In other words, if the law we publicly have isn't enforced, let's create more laws. This makes about as a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of sense as giving an over-worked employee equal more work as a means of improving quality and productivity.

Since Congres has already adjourned for 2002 the real action is likely to begin in early 2003 Our bear upon is that any modification to the common law could result in entire categories of postscripts being pulled from the market, uniform those whose safety or effectiveness have not ever been in question.

Because Durbin will ne the support--and votes--of his comrade members of Congress to bring about any changes to the law, we believe education is our first line of defense in protecting DSHEA. Each year forward Capitol Hill in Washington, DC we have an annual lobbying event called Natural forages Day where our members educate their senators and representatives about the important health benefits of dietary postscripts This year, we'd like to invite you--the dietary complement consumer--to join us.

NNFA's Natural nourishments Day in March 2003 will provide you with the chance to at hand your opinions to lawmakers. NNFA will introduce you to the members of Congres who champion the natural results industry. Past attendees include Sen Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Rep Dan Burton (R-Ind.) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).

For more information about participating in Natural rationss Day 2003, call 949.622.6272, ext 235 or email legislative@nnfa.org.

David Seckman, CEO for the National Nutritional nutritions Association, writes about political issues affecting consumers

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