The National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), a US-based trade body, is the latest industry organistion to issue a statement following this week's Senate hearing on ephedra in Washington, D.C.
The NNFA said Senator Richard Durbin, chair of the Senate oversight subcommittee on governmental affairs, continued his offensive on the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). The organisation cited his comment :"It is clear to me that DSHEA does not protect American consumers,'' spoken at the end of the hearing that included witnesses representing government, consumer and industry groups, and private citizens.
Durbin also said that the testimony and evidence presented at the hearing was "proof positive" that standards need to be established for dietary supplements in regard to manufacturing, proper dosage and representations about product safety and effectiveness. The NNFA claimed Durbin reiterated his views, previously revealed in a hearing held in July on the use of ephedra for weight-loss, that he had "no issue with vitamins and minerals".
"Senator Durbin's last hearing represented the first shot in what is likely to be an ongoing assault on DSHEA," said David Seckman, NNFA executive director and CEO. "In this latest hearing he renewed that attack and restated his call for the immediate suspension of the sale of all ephedra products. Although there is typically little activity during the upcoming congressional recess, I fully expect Senator Durbin to resume his offensive in January."
One of Durbin's chief complaints was the Food and Drug Administration's failure to issue a regulation for good manufacturing practices for dietary supplements since the passage of DSHEA eight years ago. Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford testified that a proposed rule is closer to being issued than ever before and is expected to be published by the end of this year. Crawford said the rule would be significant as GMPs represent the "main enforcement tool present in DSHEA."
The NNFA also pointed to the announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson this week that he has asked the FDA to evaluate the "best scientific evidence available and recommend the strongest possible mandatory warning label possible" for ephedra products as part of the offensive on the herbal product.