HERB - Off Topic: FDA finalizes rules for supplement claims

Gaylin Walli gwalli at infoengine.com
Fri Jan 7 09:09:12 PST 2000


Thought this might be of interest to people. It's from the CNN.com website
today (1/6/2000) -- jasmine, iasmin de cordoba, gwalli at infoengine.com


FDA finalizes rules for supplement claims

January 6, 2000
Web posted at: 11:36 AM EST (1636 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has 
clarified what manufacturers are allowed to claim on vitamin and 
supplement labels.

In Wednesday's announcement, the FDA did not make new rules, but 
clarified regulations put forth in 1994. The regulations are designed 
to protect consumers from misleading claims.

The government agency said dietary supplements may bear 
"structure/function" claims -- claims that the products affect the 
structure or function of the body -- without prior FDA review.

For example, a manufacturer can say a product "helps you relax," but 
may not, without prior FDA review, say products "prevent, treat, 
cure, mitigate or diagnose disease." A label claiming the product 
"prevents osteoporosis" would be such a "disease claim."

For the most part, these rules will not change the claims 
manufacturers are already making on their products. However, the FDA 
did expand the number of allowable claims under certain conditions.

Manufacturers will be allowed to say products help treat common 
problems associated with aging, pregnancy, menopause and adolescence. 
For example, a product can claim to treat "hot flashes."

The regulations will be published in Thursday's Federal Register and 
will become effective 30 days after its publication.

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