Once again the FDA, which sadly is now just a puppet arm of the pharmaceutical industry, is on the warpath to squelch American’s right to take natural supplements.
Ironically, with adverse drug reactions continually being one of the top causes of death (right drug, for the right condition, at the correct dosage), and literally no related deaths coming from nutritional supplements, the FDA has again decided that natural supplements should be categorized as drugs and undergo the same sort of control, testing and regulation. This happened once before in 1994, but WAS DEFEATED BY CONSUMER FEEDBACK to their Senators and Representatives.
As citizens, we need to mobilize to defend our right to continue using supplements that promote our health. So, please use this link to contact your representatives:
Let your voice be heard by exercising your right to petition the government against these serious violations of the law and scientific principle. Please be sure to call, fax, or send a certified letter to your representative — emails can be easily dismissed. Here is a set of talking points for your consideration:
- My name is [Name] and I am a constituent of [Congress Member’s name].
- I am very concerned about the new FDA draft guidance on dietary supplements and new dietary ingredients.
- I request that Congress hold hearings and take action to review the FDA’s draft guidance and stop their overreach of power.
- The FDA’s draft guidance flies in the face of the original congressional intent of the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act: The guidance turns what was meant to be a simple notification system for new dietary ingredients into a preapproval scheme that Congress did not intend to create.
- Congress recognized that dietary supplements are natural ingredients and therefore inherently safer than drugs and chemical food ingredients. It did not intend that the FDA would have the power to approve or reject dietary supplements.
- The FDA’s draft guidance creates unnecessary regulations that limit my access to dietary supplements I rely on. The expensive and burdensome process will force between 20,000 and 42,000 dietary supplements to be removed from the market and will increase the cost of those supplements that remain.
- The draft guidance hurts our economy. Expert analyses show that this guidance will cause a total economic loss of $21.2 billion to $39.8 billion annually.
- Thank you for your time.
Tips:
- Be courteous and respectful.
- Keep your comments brief and focused on the facts.
- Always thank the staff member for their time taking your call.
SAMPLE LETTER TO CONGRESS:
The Honorable _________________________ Washington, D.C.
In direct violation of the law, the FDA is threatening to ban my access to new dietary supplements.
The FDA defines dietary supplements as being “new” if they were introduced after October 15, 1994. That means that nutrients that I have been safely using over the course of three decades will be subject to the FDA’s oppressive policies that mandate costly animal testing, which translates into forced withdrawal from the market, and higher prices for me if the supplement is ever allowed to be sold again.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 states that:
“The Federal Government should not take any actions to impose unreasonable regulatory barriers limiting or slowing the flow of safe products and accurate information to consumers.”
It says that Congress finds that: “dietary supplements are safe within a broad range of intake, and safety problems with the supplements are relatively rare.”
And it says that: “legislative action that protects the right of access of consumers to safe dietary supplements is necessary in order to promote wellness.”
This draft guidance does the exact opposite of what Congress intended. It imposes unreasonable barriers that limit and slow the flow of safe products and accurate information to consumers. I call upon Congress to:
Uphold the landmark legislation it passed seventeen years ago, and to direct the FDA to revise its New Dietary Ingredient draft guidelines to reflect DSHEA’s (and Congress’s) stated values and goals.
Vote against the newly introduced Dietary Supplement Labeling Act as this would give the FDA even greater arbitrary powers to remove safe dietary supplements from the market, and will profoundly impact this nations’ health in a negative way.
All of these proposals result in wasteful federal spending, while at the same time impose a massive new “regulatory tax” on consumers and the vitamin industry.
Kindly let me know what actions you are taking in response to the urgent issues raised in this letter.
Sincerely,
Name________________________________________
Address______________________________________
City______________________ST____ Zip__________
