FDA REGULATIONS ATTEMPTED: PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW

[Guest guest]

The Durbin Bill S. 722

 

 

 

 

Contrary to newspaper reports, this bill does not ban ephedra.

 

 

 

The bill provides additional regulatory framework for the FDA to ban ephedra.

Establishing a causal link between the herb and an adverse event is not

required in order to take action.

 

This bill is not directed solely at ephedra, or its use in weight loss pills

or energy enhancing tablets. This bill is aimed at all dietary supplements and

the entire herbal pharmacopoeia. This is a very important bill that we must

OPPOSE. If passed, this bill would affect health care providers, distributors,

and the ability of the public to access vitamins, supplements, and herbs.

 

 

 

The FDA already has enough legislative authority to regulate supplements.

Former FDA commissioner Dr. Jane Henney, in fact, testified before Congress that

" DSHEA provides FDA with the necessary legal authority to protect the public

health. "   The Department of Health & Human Services can also stop the sale of

an entire class of dietary supplements if they pose an imminent public health

hazard.

 

 

The FDA has finally started to fully implement the law by taking aggressive

action against unsubstantiated dietary supplement claims as well as recently

issuing a proposed rule on manufacturing practices for supplements.

 

 

Please submit your opposition to this bill ASAP, and pass on the information

to all concerned citizens:

 

Just email the copied and attached opposition letters (one to Senator Durbin

and one generic letter for your Senator) with your name to the email addresses

below. If you are a licensed health care provider in your state, please note

in your letter. If you are a voting citizen, please also voice your opinion. 

If you would like to read more about the Durbin bill, see the attached

document or go to <A HREF= " http://thomas.loc.gov/ " >http://thomas.loc.gov/</A>,

and enter “supplements†under ‘word/phrase’

to find s.722.

 

All States send fax/email to:1) Dr Bill Frist, US Senator, Tennessee:

 

     202-228-1264 Fax in DC, 615-352-9985 Fax in TN

 

 

 

2)      Senator Judd Gregg, New Hampshire, Chair, Committee on Health,

Education, Labor, and Pensions, <A

HREF= " mailbox " >mailbox</A>

 

 

 

3)     Locate your Senator at <A

HREF= " http://thomas.loc.gov/ " >http://thomas.loc.gov/</A>, click on Senate to

locate for your state.

 

 

 

 

 

Send to Senator Durbin via fax or email:

 

202-224-2152202-228-0400  or 1692 fax numbers332 Dirksen Building,

Washington, DC  20510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample letter to send to Senator Durbin (other letter follows below):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 21, 2003

 

 

 

Dear Senator Durbin:

 

 

 

I am very opposed to S bill 722.

 

 

 

Contrary to newspaper reports, this bill does not ban ephedra.

 

 

 

The bill clearly provides additional regulatory framework for the FDA to ban

ephedra.

 

This bill is not directed solely at ephedra, or its use in weight loss pills

or energy enhancing tablets. It is very clear that this bill is aimed at all

dietary supplements and the entire herbal pharmacopoeia.

 

 

 

The FDA already has enough legislative authority to regulate supplements.

Former FDA commissioner Dr. Jane Henney, in fact, testified before Congress that

" DSHEA provides FDA with the necessary legal authority to protect the public

health. "   The Department of Health & Human Services can also stop the sale of

an entire class of dietary supplements if they pose an imminent public health

hazard.

 

 

 

This bill, if passed, will have an enormous impact on the availability of

vitamins and supplements to the public. I have urged my congressman to oppose

this bill.

 

 

 

Thank you for your consideration,

 

(your name)

 

 

 

 

 

Sample letter to send to your Senator and the committee members:

 

 

 

May 21, 2003

 

Dear Senator (name):

 

 

 

I am writing to ask you to oppose Senate Bill 722, introduced by Senator

Durbin.

 

 

 

Contrary to newspaper reports, this bill does not ban ephedra.

 

 

 

The bill provides additional regulatory framework for the FDA to ban ephedra.

Establishing a causal link between the herb and an adverse event is not

required in order to take action.

 

This bill is not directed solely at ephedra, or its use in weight loss pills

or energy enhancing tablets. The media and Senator Durbin have not provided

the public with the primary focus of this bill: This bill is aimed at all

dietary supplements and the entire herbal pharmacopoeia

 

 

 

The FDA already has enough legislative authority to regulate supplements.

Former FDA commissioner Dr. Jane Henney, in fact, testified before Congress that

" DSHEA provides FDA with the necessary legal authority to protect the public

health. "   The Department of Health & Human Services can also stop the sale of

an entire class of dietary supplements if they pose an imminent public health

hazard.

 

 

The FDA has finally started to fully implement the law by taking aggressive

action against unsubstantiated dietary supplement claims as well as recently

issuing a proposed rule on manufacturing practices for supplements.

 

 

 

This bill, if passed, will have an enormous impact on the availability of

vitamins and supplements to the public. Please oppose this bill.

 

 

 

Thank you for your consideration,

 

(your name)