California ephedra legislation gets thumbs up from industry
California designed to regulate the sale and labelling of ephedra
products had been criticised for being too restrictive, but
amendments to the rules have now been given the thumbs up.
New legislation proposed earlier this month by the authorities in California designed to regulate the sale and labelling of ephedra products had been criticised by the dietary supplement industry and health food retailers for being too restrictive, but amendments to the rules have now been given the thumbs up.
The two bills, SB 1884 and SB 1948, require the addition of warnings labels on all dietary supplements containing ephedra or steroid hormone precursors, and that such warnings be clear and conspicuous, but while the supplement industry was widely supportive of the need to inform consumers, it was concerned that the restrictions imposed by the legislation were too great.
But in a rare case of the legislators apparently listening to the requests of the industry, the Californian authorities have introduced a number of amendments to the bills, enabling the industry, represented by the Ephedra Education Council, to finally give its support.
"The California legislature has had the common sense to take a responsible course of protection, which our industry has advocated for years," said Wes Siegner, general counsel for the Ephedra Education Council.
"Sound scientific research supports the labelling requirements included in SB 1884. These measures and the prohibition on sales to minors are also consistent with the industry's national standards, and with laws in other states supported by the industry. Consumers continue to have access to ephedra dietary supplements in all states. Consumers should check products to ensure the industry recommended serving limits and warnings are included, and read and follow the label warnings carefully."
The bill was passed by the legislature at the end of August, and is now awaiting signature by California's governer, Gray Davis.
The EEC said that it broadly supported measures such as the California bill because they sent a strong message that ephedra products are safe and beneficial, but stressed that it was important to ensure that message about under-age consumption was also put across - ephedra should not be used by anyone under the age of 18 (a lesson which has, sadly, not been learnt by some people and which might have been a contributory factor in the death of some young sportsmen).
The California bill is similar to measures, also supported by the industry, adopted in Ohio, Washington, Hawaii, Nebraska and Michigan, the EEC said.
"Obesity is a national health crisis - it is the second-leading cause of premature death in the US," said Siegner. "Concerned Americans have the right to choose weight-loss products - such as those containing ephedra - supported by sound scientific studies showing them to be safe and effective when used as directed. For more than 15 million Americans, ephedra dietary supplements offer the potential for better health."
