(December 7, 2006, Silver Spring, MD) — The United States Senate yesterday passed the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act, S. 3546. This legislation, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in June, would establish a requirement for marketers of dietary supplements and OTC drugs to inform FDA if they receive reports of serious adverse events associated with their products. Co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Michael Enzi (R-WY), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and John Cornyn (R-TX). The bill will need to be considered in the House of Representatives (the companion bill is H.R. 6168, Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act) in the last days of the current 109th Congress in order to be passed into law.

"We have worked diligently over the last several years to get this law passed, and we will continue to work hard in the remaining days of this Congress to ensure that this good legislation, which includes important safeguards for companies that sell supplements, makes its way through the House," noted Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). "AHPA and its members especially appreciate the efforts and support of all of the Senators who have sponsored this legislation," he added.

The text of the legislation can be found at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:s3546es.txt.pdf.

# # #

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is a trade association representing the core of the botanical trade — comprised of the finest growers, processors, manufacturers and marketers of herbal products. AHPA’s mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. AHPA committees generate self-regulations to ensure the highest level of quality with respect to the way herbs are manufactured, labeled, and sold. Website: www.ahpa.org.