FDA to Regulate Vitamins Like Pharmaceutical Drugs?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a proposal that would allow them to regulate complimentary and alternative therapies, as well as health supplements under The Federal Act that allows them to regulate the pharmaceutical industry.
What this means to consumers, according to the proposal as outlined in FDA Docket number 2006D-0480, is that things like vitamins and herbs would be controlled by the FDA, and could possibly require prescriptions from a naturopath, herbologist or some other physician, all of which would require you to pay a health insurance company and contribute to the already back-breaking cost of healthcare in America.
Even things like Massage Stones could be classified as "Medical Devices".
There are those who do not trust the US government to act in the interest of its citizens over the interests of pharmaceutical companies and health insurance providers. Those people have good reason to feel this way, and the amount of dangerous - DEADLY, even - pharmaceutical drugs that get recalled (as you can see on this site on any given day) is testament to the fact that human beings can be used as guinea pigs because the FDA allows the pharmaceutical industry to release drugs that haven't been properly tested.
Previous rant aside, this proposal would allow the FDA to control your access to "alternatives" to the broken, profit-driven, corrupt pharmaceutical industry here in the US.
On the other hand, it would provide more regulation to protect us from people selling snake oil or dangerous products and passing them off as alternative, complimentary, herbal or therapeutic medicine. It would ensure that you are getting what the label says you're getting.
No matter which side of the fence you are on, now is your chance to take part in the Democratic process and make your voice heard. Go to http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm and type in the docket number 2006D-0480 to read the proposal.
When you are ready to voice your opinion to the FDA, go here to submit your comments about the docket above.
What this means to consumers, according to the proposal as outlined in FDA Docket number 2006D-0480, is that things like vitamins and herbs would be controlled by the FDA, and could possibly require prescriptions from a naturopath, herbologist or some other physician, all of which would require you to pay a health insurance company and contribute to the already back-breaking cost of healthcare in America.
Even things like Massage Stones could be classified as "Medical Devices".
There are those who do not trust the US government to act in the interest of its citizens over the interests of pharmaceutical companies and health insurance providers. Those people have good reason to feel this way, and the amount of dangerous - DEADLY, even - pharmaceutical drugs that get recalled (as you can see on this site on any given day) is testament to the fact that human beings can be used as guinea pigs because the FDA allows the pharmaceutical industry to release drugs that haven't been properly tested.
Previous rant aside, this proposal would allow the FDA to control your access to "alternatives" to the broken, profit-driven, corrupt pharmaceutical industry here in the US.
On the other hand, it would provide more regulation to protect us from people selling snake oil or dangerous products and passing them off as alternative, complimentary, herbal or therapeutic medicine. It would ensure that you are getting what the label says you're getting.
No matter which side of the fence you are on, now is your chance to take part in the Democratic process and make your voice heard. Go to http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm and type in the docket number 2006D-0480 to read the proposal.
When you are ready to voice your opinion to the FDA, go here to submit your comments about the docket above.
Labels: fda, food and drug, health supplements, law, legal, pharmaceuitical drugs, pharmaceutical industry, vitamins
