California passes supplement restrictions

The California legislature has passed two bills concerning the sale and labelling of certain dietary supplements, according to an alert from the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA).

One bill, SB 1884, requires manufacturers to add specific warnings, the FDA MedWatch phone number and notice that the product is not for use by individuals under the age of 18 years on the label of all dietary supplements containing ephedrine group alkaloids (ephedra) or steroid hormone precursors.

It would also make it a misdemeanour for any manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer or other person to sell, transfer, or otherwise furnish a dietary supplement containing ephedrine group alkaloids or steroid hormone precursors to a person under 18 years of age.

The NNFA, which represents the interests of manufacturers and retailers of a wide variety of natural products including organic and health foods, natural ingredient cosmetics, sports nutrition products and vitamins, herbs and other dietary supplements, said it understood that California's Governor Grey Davis was preparing to sign the bill into law, a process which was likely to be completed by the end of the month.

The other bill, SB 1948, requires that any warning labels on dietary supplement products that are manufactured or distributed in California be "clear and conspicuous", a restatement of the federal standard already in existence.