| Comment Record |
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Commentor |
Dr. William Morrison |
Date/Time |
2003-04-02 19:25:25 |
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Organization |
Frontiers in Health |
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Category |
Health Professional |
| Comments for FDA General |
| Questions |
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1. General Comments
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I am a practicing Naturopathic Practitioner in Houston, Texas, and have been in the natural products industry for 18 years. Both my clients and I appreciate how the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 improved consumer access to dietary supplements and information about them, while increasing consumer protection against unsafe products and false and misleading claims. However, I am very disturbed by the FDA’s new push to amend DSHEA and begin regulating dietary supplements. Considering that they already have full authority to remove harmful products from the shelf, I (along with many others) see this as a ploy to allow them to begin controlling the supplement industry. With the FDA’s ties to the Pharmaceutical industry as well as a regularly exhibited lack of credible knowledge about Alternative Medicine and the supplement industry, I think it is a HUGE disservice to the American population to let them have control I this area.
Simply put, I believe the agency can regulate ephedra without dismantling DSHEA.
It is also my understanding that DSHEA increased FDA's enforcement powers and that FDA can seize a dietary supplement if it presents an unreasonable or significant risk of illness or injury. Furthermore, the government can stop the sale of an entire class of dietary supplements if they pose an imminent public health hazard.
The former FDA commissioner, Dr. Jane Henney, has even stated before Congress that she believes that DSHEA provides FDA with the necessary legal authority to protect the public health. I agree with Dr. Henney, strongly support DSHEA, and do not think any additional legislative authority is necessary.
Sincerely,
Jerry
Jerry Morrison ND
Board Certified Licensed Naturopathic Practitioner
Standard Process South
(281) 374 6583
(832) 435 0087
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