Durbin, Waxman Request National Ephedra Ban

WASHINGTON--On Oct. 20, two legislators sent Tommy Thompson, secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), a letter to ban ephedra at the national level. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) constructed the letter after California became the third state to ban products containing ephedra.

The legislators wrote three of the most populous states (constituting 65 million people)--New York, Durbin's Illinois and Waxman's California--have banned ephedra. They also noted GNC, Walgreens, CVS, Eckerd, Rite Aid and Wal-Mart, collectively representing more than 22,600 stores, had pulled ephedra-containing products from store shelves as of Sept. 1.

"Mr. Secretary, how many states will have to enact legislation and how many stores will have to pull this product before you use your authority to ban ephedra and protect the rest of America?" the congressmen wrote.

Durbin and Waxman added they were still awaiting follow-up from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its March 5, 2003, reopening of a rule regarding ephedra products and warning labels. The 30-day comment period has long since expired.

Durbin is the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government, Management, Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia; Waxman is the ranking member of the House Committee on Government Reform.