Durbin Statement on Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplement Makers

Statement

United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today on an FDA final rule establishing good manufacturing practices (GMP) for dietary supplements:

"Today's final rule on good manufacturing practices is an example of better late than never. But the requirements do not appear to go as far as they could have.

The dietary supplement industry will have significant latitude to determine what quality control measures are appropriate, and limited resources will limit FDA's ability to follow up on complaints. Too many in the dietary supplement industry have demonstrated time and again that they are motivated more by the health of their bottom line than the health of American consumers.

Last year, we were able to pass legislation requiring dietary supplement makers to report serious adverse health effects of their products to the FDA. That was a good first step, but there is still much to do. Congress needs to require adequate pre-market safety testing of dietary supplements and give the FDA more authority to remove dangerous supplements from the market once safety issues arise. I will continue working to that end in the months ahead."

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