11.01.05
Members of the Liberty Committee are planning to co-sponsor a bill aimed at making accurate disease-nutrient information more visible in the U.S. marketplace. Made up of 24 members of Congress, the Liberty Committee strives to ensure the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution retain a presence in modern-day legislation. The decision to sponsor a bill follows a briefing held [in September] by campaigners who believe that the FDA’s current health claim policies amount to ‘censorship’ of information on the effects of nutrients on disease. They want dietary supplements to be able to carry treatment claims, and for the FDA’s approval process for qualified health claims to be expedited. Amongst the speakers addressing Senate and House staff…was attorney Jonathan Emord…Mr. Emord says that there is a mass suppression of health information in grocery stores, health food stores and in the media. Since qualified health claims were introduced in September 2003, the approval process has been beset by delays. Despite pledging that a response would be given to all claims submitted within 365 days, the agency has exceeded this timeframe on a number of occasions. For example, a decision on American Longevity’s lycopene/cancer petition has been postponed six times and is not more than 300 days over the original due date.
—Jess Halliday, Nutraingredients.com, 9/27/05
—Jess Halliday, Nutraingredients.com, 9/27/05