On Monday, Aug. 5, NPA CEO and Executive Director John Shaw issued a response to Consumers Union/Consumer Reports in regard to a recent article calling for support of the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act.

August 5, 2013

Kim Kleman
Editor-in-Chief, Consumer Reports
Deputy Editorial Director, Consumers Union

Dear Kim,

Regarding the article, “Dangerous Dietary Supplements Need Greater Scrutiny and Better Labels”:

As this very story so accurately notes, millions of Americans take dietary supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle, and I strongly believe it does a disservice to these consumers to not clarify the differences between illegal products and legitimate supplements.

Products spiked with prescription drugs, steroids, pesticides or banned chemicals are illegal and should in no way be associated with the legal and safe dietary supplements consumers take daily.

The additional regulations proposed in the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act will not aid in stopping criminals who sell illegal products any more than the current regulations do. This legislation will only adversely affect the legitimate supplement industry.

Currently, both the FDA and the FTC have regulatory authority over dietary supplements and their labels. The FDA has said repeatedly it has all the tools it needs to oversee the industry, and both government agencies take enforcement action when deemed necessary. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 gives the FDA the power to make sure dietary supplement manufacturers are providing safe and properly labeled products and that they make substantiated claims.

Every industry has bad actors, and it is simply not right to punish law-abiding dietary supplement companies with additional and redundant regulations because of the unacceptable actions of criminals.

Sincerely,

John Spitaleri Shaw
Executive Director & CEO
Natural Products Association