WASHINGTON—The Natural Products Association (NPA) has responded to the recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on economic adulteration, which analyzed FDA's approach to the problem in foods and medicines, and put forth recommendations for the agency to consider going forward. NPA executive director and CEO John Gay urged the natural products industry to keep economic adulteration in the forefront and continue the fight against this damaging practice.
THE GAO report, "Food and Drug Administration: Better Coordination Could Enhance Efforts to Address Economic Adulteration and Protect the Public Health," noted while the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act does not distinguish between motives in determining whether a product is adulterated, FDA sees value in recognizing economically motivated adulteration (EMA), and the agency has, in some cases, focused on this type of motivation. The report also noted several challenges to rooting out EMA, including increased globalization and the growing complexity of supply chains. IN the end, GAO recommended FDA "adopt a working definition of economic adulteration, enhance communication and coordination of agency efforts, and provide guidance to agency centers and offices on the means of addressing economic adulteration."
Gay said NPA supports government and industry efforts to combat this illegal practice. He noted NPA has partnered with the other trade associations in support of FDA's efforts to eliminate drugs masquerading as dietary supplements. As reflected in the GAO report, NPA and other industry stakeholders support FDA actions that hold accountable those who violate the law by illegally marketing such products.
"The GAO report reminds us that the issue of economically motivated adulteration, or EMA, has been with us for as long as there has been commerce, and that it persists to a greater or lesser degree in a number of segments, including dietary supplements and other foods," he said.
Gay said NPA helps educate stakeholders on the issue of EMAs and supports other industry programs in this area. "Most recently, NPA endorsed a program by the American Botanical Council that would educate the dietary supplement industry about ingredient and product adulteration," he explained, adding NPA appreciated the opportunity to discuss these efforts with the GAO investigators. "It’s important for all government and industry to work together to keep these products from the marketplace."
For more information on the report, including a full version pdf, visit GAO online .
