THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080249
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
The House decided a bitter fight between dietary supplement makers and their critics Friday, passing legislation that allows any supplement to be sold once shown to be safe but banning most claims to cure or prevent illness.
``This bill resolves an extremely contentious issue,'' Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said before the House passed the bill by voice vote at 3 a.m. and sent it to the Senate.
The measure would require manufacturers of vitamins, minerals, herbal products and amino acids to follow for four years very strict government rules on product health claims - rules companies say constitute a ban.
The bill would set the first safety standard for dietary supplements: They must not pose a ``significant or unreasonable risk'' of injury if used as directed.
And makers of new products would have to show the Food and Drug Administration proof that they are safe 75 days before they go on the market, so the FDA has a chance to fight any supplements it fears are dangerous.
Those provisions were the most fiercely fought in the two-year battle over the $4 billion industry. Companies contended the FDA unfairly treated their products as drugs, and spent $2.5 million lobbying Congress to change that.
Half of all Americans are estimated to use dietary supplements, and about 2 million wrote Congress asking for legislation ensuring their access to the products. by CNB