Dietary Supplements May Soon Carry Mandatory Warning Labels inCalifornia

Dietary Supplements May Soon Carry Mandatory Warning Labels inCalifornia

SACRAMENTO--In late August, two bills affectingthe sale of dietary supplements came a few steps closer to being signed into lawin California. The bills cover warning statements on ephedra and hormoneprecursor supplements, as well as supplements in general.

Senate Bill (SB) 1884, introduced Feb. 22 by Sen. Jackie Speier(D-San Francisco/San Mateo), passed the State Assembly with a vote of 52 to 22on Aug. 29. The bill, which now moves to the state Senate before heading to thegovernor, would require warning statements on supplements containing ephedrinealkaloids or steroid hormone precursors, such as androstenedione. Thelegislation would also prohibit the sale of such supplements to minors and wouldrequire products carry a toll-free number, such as 800-MEDWATCH, for consumersto inform health authorities about adverse event reports (AERs).

"Some of these dietary supplements are known as 'legalspeed' and with good reason," Speier said in a news release on her Web site(democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/speier).This is Speier's second time trying to get a bill passed that would requirewarning labels on ephedra products; the first bill, which was introduced Feb.21, 2001, was shot down by an Assembly committee. "Many are the healthequivalent of 'get rich quick' schemes, only with disastrous health results, andare the chemical cousins of illegal drugs," she added. "Thislegislation will rein in those supplements."

Speier said that companies like Metabolife should be ashamed oftheir products and their "corrupt corporate behavior."

SB 1948, authored by Sen. Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont) andintroduced on Feb. 22, passed both houses and is currently on Gov. Grey Davis'desk. The bill, if signed into law, would require warning labels on dietarysupplements be clear and conspicuous. In addition, those who fail to place suchlabels on their products would be fined $1,000 for the first violation, $2,000for the second violation and $5,000 for each subsequent violation.

"Presently, the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] does notrequire a 'warning label' on supplements," read a news release on Sen.Figueroa's Web site (democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/figueroa)."All that is provided is the 'Supplement Facts' panel section on thepackaging that is modeled on the 'Nutritional Facts' panel section currentlyrequired for foods." The release went on to say that product warning labelsare often too small or "hidden," presenting a challenge for seniors,"those most likely to use, and misuse, dietary supplements."