Dietary Supplements to Face Stricter FDA Regulations

Dietary supplements have long been criticized because they do not face strict regulation. In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was passed and supplement manufacturers were told they must be able to provide substantial evidence regarding the safety of ingredients in their products. Thirteen years later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the rule will be enforced. Dietary supplement manufacturers will be required to test the purity and composition of the products they market. Large companies must comply by next June and smaller companies are being given until 2010 to comply.

If dietary supplements are found not to contain the ingredients on their label, the FDA can take action, ranging from a revision of the product label in minor cases to criminal charges for major offenses. The enforcement seems long overdue and should solve many problems which have plagued the supplement industry. However, some experts feel the guidelines still leave too much up to the manufacturer, such as what testing methods to use. According to comments reported on MSNBC, the new rules are not perfect but are a step in the right direction - adding more regulation onto a $22 billion industry. The new rules still fall short of ordering companies to do tests which prove health claims they make.

Related Resources:

• The Facts of Dietary Supplements
• Avoiding Drug / Supplement Interactions
• What Dietary Supplements are You Taking?
• FDA: Final Rule Promotes Safe Use of Dietary Supplements

~ By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com Guides to Arthritis / Osteoarthritis

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