Industry Groups Call for Standards on Ephedra 41152

IndustryGroups Call for Standards on Ephedra

WASHINGTON--Thedietary supplement industry pulled together last week and filed a CitizensPetition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asking the agency toformally adopt a national standard for dietary supplements containing ephedra(ma huang).

TheAmerican Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Consumer Healthcare ProductsAssociation (CHPA), National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) and UtahNatural Products Alliance (UNPA) filed the petition on Oct. 25 asking FDA tomove forward on standards for the formulation, labeling and marketing of ephedraproducts. Industry associations have worked closely together developing andadopting guidelines concerning supplements that contain ephedrine alkaloids,said David Seckman, executive director of NNFA. Several states, includingOhio, have adopted the standard. We are asking FDA to endorse the guidelines andenforce them with the authority the agency has been granted by Congress.

Thepetitions recommendations include limitations on serving size and dailyconsumption, requirements for specific cautionary labeling, and prohibitionsagainst synthetic ingredients and unlawful claims. The serving limits are 25 mgtotal ephedrine alkaloids per serving, 100 mg per day.

Tolearn more, visit www.nnfa.org, www.ahpa.orgor www.fda.gov.