Comment Record |
Commentor |
Mr. Geoffrey Connor |
Date/Time |
2003-03-20 13:06:13 |
Organization |
GNC Franchisee |
Category |
Dietary Supplement Industry |
Comments for FDA General |
Questions |
1. General Comments
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March 5, 2003
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Dear Sir/Madam:
I own a health food store in
Minocqua,WI., USA, and have been in the natural products industry for
several years. Both my customers 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.
I am concerned that FDA has only just begun to initiate aggressive
enforcement actions under DSHEA, yet is calling for suggestions for
increased legislative authority in order to better regulate the
supplement industry. Shouldn't you first give these recent efforts a
chance to work, and perhaps even implement good manufacturing
practices for supplements, before calling for new laws? 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,
Geoffrey Connor
P.O.Box 259
Minocqua, WI.54548
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