H.R. 4771 was introduced by Reps. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) as the companion bill to S. 2012 that was introduced in the Senate earlier this year. CRN is now urging the Senate to follow the House’s lead and approve the bill.
“CRN thanks Reps. Pitts and Pallone for their leadership in promoting DASCA among their House colleagues and congratulates the House of Representatives on passage of this important bill,” said Mike Greene, vice president, government relations, CRN.
“If DASCA is passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, DEA’s enhanced authority would help protect consumers from illegal products that could present safety concerns and will give them greater confidence that the products brought to market and sold as dietary supplements are legal. We urge the Senate to follow suit and expedite DASCA’s enactment.”
Tough penalties
As reported in February by NutraIngredients-USA, DASCA would ensure anabolic steroids are not misrepresented as legitimate dietary supplements by broadening the definition and imposing tougher penalties on firms making and selling them.
The Act seeks to amend the Controlled Substances Act to add more than 25 new substances to current lists of defined anabolic steroids, and revises the process whereby new substances can be added in future.
It also creates tougher penalties (up to $2.5m and up to 10 years in prison) for the manufacture, sale and/or distribution of substances that meet the definition.
DASCA was introduced into the House at the start of June, and received final approval by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in July.