[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 38 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E342-E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROTECTING THE HEALTH SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY FROM BURDENSOME REGULATIONS

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                          HON. PETER J. ROSKAM

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2012

  Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to voice my concerns about 
recent FDA draft guidelines impacting the health supplement industry.
  Each year millions of Americans choose to take vitamins and 
supplements. These supplements are regulated under law and represent 
just one way consumers can make informed decisions about their 
healthcare.
  In July 2011 the Food and Drug Administration issued guidelines 
relating to new dietary ingredients or NDIs. These guidelines were 
aimed at ensuring the safety of ingredients contained in dietary 
supplements. While the FDA is responsible for the safety of supplements 
and the general public, I am concerned this regulation will create 
unnecessary paperwork and ultimately cost valuable jobs.
  The FDA received over 146,000 pages of comments from the public on 
the guidelines and it is my hope they will take these into serious 
consideration as they draft a final guidance.
  In February 2011 President Obama stated in a speech before the United 
States Chamber of Commerce that if there are rules and regulations, ``. 
. . needlessly stifling job creation and economic growth, we will fix 
them. Already we're dramatically cutting down on the paperwork that 
saddles businesses with huge administrative costs.''
  Instead the Administration continues to promulgate burdensome 
regulations like the New Dietary Ingredient guideline that go beyond 
the original Congressional intent and will ultimately make it more 
difficult for companies to operate.

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