Dietary Supplement And Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AND NONPRESCRIPTION DRUG CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - December 08, 2006)

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Chairman Barton allowing me time to speak on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise opposing this Dietary Supplemental and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act. The bill would replace the current system of adverse event reporting by medical professionals through the MedWatch Program with a mandatory system that would require manufacturers and retailers to keep records and to report to the FDA when they received reports of adverse events.

The bill redirects complaints of adverse effects away from local health responders, health care professionals, to manufacturers and retailers and then to the FDA. Consumers who are injured should be directed to medical professionals trained to determine whether the condition is caused by ingredients in the supplement or by other factors, not by self-diagnosis.

Secondly, this bill depends on those who may be responsible for types of drugs or drug supplements to report adverse effects to the FDA. Those guilty of violating the law are less likely to report adverse effects to the government and to follow the law.

I think this is a bad bill. I hope that we reject it.

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