“ESSNA is working with the responsible sector of the industry and with enforcement authorities to bring cowboy operators within the law and welcomes the action taken on this occasion,” said Chris Whitehouse, director of the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA).
“The reputation of the whole sector is damaged by those who flout the law and put consumer safety in jeopardy.”
Last week Dutch authorities issued public warnings and told online retailers to remove Dexaprine in response to 11 adverse events including severe heart problems and nausea. UK authorities this week said the product was an unlicensed medicine and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) there issued a separate warning about a fat burning ingredient called DNP it said was responsible for at least two deaths.
The Californian manufacturer, iForce Nutrition, has not made a public statement about the EU actions or responded to our questions.
Medical by function
“This ingredient clearly has a medicinal effect and under European medicines law must, therefore, obtain a medicines licence prior to being marketed,” Whitehouse added.
“A substance which is medicinal by function in this way cannot be marketed as a food, doubly so when associated with claims that would also be illegal under the provisions of the EU Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (NHCR).”
The Dutch food supplements association, NPN, also welcomed the crack down.