FTC Greatly Expanding Potential Regulation of Dietary Supplement Market
A New Call to Action from the Natural Products Association
NPA logo
May 21, 2010

FTC Powers Bill Moves to Next Step: Legislation greatly expanding potential regulation of the dietary supplement market moves to a critical phase

Dear NPA Member: [A.C. Grace Company NOTE: We are proud members of the NPA]

Yesterday, Financial Services Reform (S.3217) passed the Senate. While expansion of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) powers was kept out of the Senate bill, now the House and Senate must work out the differences between the chambers' versions. The expansions being discussed could have a dire impact on the way you do business.

Many of your responded to the last call to contact your senators, and I think you deserve some of the credit for the decision of the Senate not to include the FTC powers provision in the bill they passed.  Now, we need you to act again by contacting both your representatives and senators today, urging them to focus on strengthening the stability of our economy, not regulating industries that had nothing to do with the financial crisis. At a time when businesses are struggling to both survive and create new jobs, adding burdensome new regulations and ceding more authority over your business to the FTC is just what the economy does not need.

Now is the time that your voice matters most.

Should these additional powers be granted to the FTC, you can expect to see the following:
•    The FTC creating advertising guidelines that are inconsistent with what is allowed under DSHEA and the FDA
•    The FTC acting as a legislative body, creating “rules” for industries like ours in areas in which it has no expertise
•    The FTC levying fines against businesses for practices it deems illegal without allowing the business to change its policies
•    The FTC levying fines against companies for “aiding and abetting” wrongdoing even when the companies did not know a violation was occurring
•    The FTC making, approving, and policing rules with virtually no oversight

I encourage you to take action and send a new message to your members of Congress, urging them to OPPOSE the FTC provision.  

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sincerely,
John Gay
Executive Director and CEO
Natural Products Association
________________________________________
About the Natural Products Association
Founded in 1936, the Natural Products Association is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural products industry. The Natural Products Association represents more than 10,000 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids.
www.NPAinfo.org