Durbin Sets the Record Straight

Durbin Sets the Record Straight

WASHINGTONIn an articleappearing in the Washington Times biweekly magazine, Insight,Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) defended SB 722, the bill causing acrimony betweenindustry and government. Id like to set the record straight. ... Thevitamin industry [would not be] threatened by my bill, but the ephedra-peddlerswould be, he wrote in Nov. 25s The Truth About the Dietary SupplementAct (www.insightmag.com/news/551633.html).

The bill under scrutinythe Dietary Supplement Safety Actof 2003, introduced in March 2003would require manufacturers to reportadverse events to the federal government; to receive pre-market approval fordietary supplements carrying stimulants; and to characterize products promotingmuscle growth as anabolic steroids rather than dietary supplements.

Durbins article began with the retelling of the death of16-year-old Sean Riggins, an Illinois youth who died from a massive heartattack caused by dietary supplementsin particular, a stimulant calledephedra. Durbin reported SB 722 would protect consumers from ephedra and thenew ephedra-free stimulants taking its place.

The hired guns of the dietary supplement industry say mylegislation will create hardships for millions of fitness buffs and everydayAmericans who use vitamins or herbal remedies, he wrote. My bill doesntrequire safety testing for vitamins, minerals or the vast majority of dietarysupplements; only stimulants must be proved safe before being sold.

U.S. consumers should have the right to choose productsthey believe are best for their health, he added. But the companiesselling these products have an obligation to make certain their products aresafe. If the dietary supplement industry will not accept that responsibility,Congress should enact a law to require it.

The article ended with Durbins e-mail: [email protected].