Unless there is action to block the FDA, on April 30th the FDA wants to sneak through this legislation to regulate vitamins, herbs and even massage oils like drugs:
Docket: 2006D-0480 - Draft Guidance for Industry on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and Their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration
more....
In an email I just received:
If the FDA has its way, even vegetable juices will be regulated as "drugs." Massage props and hot rocks will be classified as "medical devices," and the entire nutritional supplements industry will be destroyed, wiped off the slate, and replaced by a stronger-than-ever pharmaceutical monopoly that has already taken over virtually the entire U.S. government.
This is an urgent action item. You still have until April 30 to post comments with the FDA or write your representatives, and you can join hundreds of thousands of other readers who are taking a stand right now to stop this medical tyranny in its tracks. Contact details and web links are printed in the story below.
Link to the act.
A sample:
First, depending on the CAM therapy or practice, a product
used in a CAM therapy or practice may be subject to regulation as a
biological product, cosmetic, drug, device, or food (including food
additives and dietary supplements) under the act or the PHS Act.
Second, neither the act nor the PHS Act exempts CAM
products from regulation.
I use both conventional and alternative medicine, and want to have access to both. DSHEA, a law regulating these products, was passed in 1994 and has been governing the industry successfully ever since. Whether or not you use vitamins, herbs and/or supplements, this act takes away another freedom and increases regulation.
Further regulation would definitely serve the pharmaceutical and medical industries, because with regulation comes control of distribution, and distribution would increase pharma's profit potential from an aging population. Regulating daily vitamins and cups of herbal tea via prescription definitely doesn't serve consumers, but it would bring windfall profits to pharma.
To control vitamins and herbs through pharma and the medical profession would make them prohibitively expensive for most, which is, I believe, the primary intent of the legislation. We have seen that there is slight concern for consumer safety or citizen wellbeing on the part of this government. Instead, we have seen a growing desire to over-regulate and oversee us, especially if there is a potential for corporate profit.
I have a serious chronic infection that is well-controlled and improving because I take colloidal silver. If this were to be regulated as a drug, I know the consequences to my health and my finances would be serious. Millions of Americans are in the same boat.
This act is unfair and unwanted. I will appreciate all actions to help block its implementation.
Link to send comment to the FDA.