Savvy Vegetarian Blog - News and Opinion

Vegetarian Lifestyle, Environment, Health

Wed, 15 Jun 2005

The article below on the WTO Codex was reprinted with permission from Iowa's Enlightening Magazine, The Iowa Source, published right here in Fairfield, IA. Our thanks to publisher, Claudia Petrick!

Your Access to Nutritional Supplements is Endangered!

Supplements Could Go the Way of Prescription Drugs: Exorbitantly Expensive and Out of Reach

Access to herbs, vitamins, and other dietary supplements may soon be severely restricted, with certain supplements and dosages available by doctors prescription only, and at greatly increased cost. This will happen if the U.S. agrees to comply with the World Trade Organization's Codex Alimentarius (food code) Commission, whose mandate is to set international standards for food products.

Supporters of the Codex legislation say these rules will protect consumers from unsubstantiated claims for dietary supplements. Critics allege that these rules will only benefit pharmaceutical companies, which stand to control a hugely profitable market and reap financial windfalls, while they would strip consumers of access to many freely available and affordable dietary supplements. Doctors prescriptions would be required for any vitamin dosage over the FDA's minimum daily allowance.

The FDA is preparing the U.S. for 'harmonization of its dietary supplement laws to an absurdly restrictive international standard,' says John C. Hammell of International Advocates of Health Freedom.

While everyone wants to see consumers protected from nutritional scams, no one wants to be required to see a doctor for a prescription of 250 mg vitamin C or a bottle of echinacea. 'There is no need for more FDA control of supplements that is already in place, which is substantial,' says Wallace G. Heath, Ph.D. 'Instead of drastically restricting supplements, why doesn't the FDA better control and restrict the extremely dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, which are now killing us at the rate of a major airline crash per day?'

If you do not value your right to purchase herbs, vitamins, and other dietary supplements, do nothing.

If you want continued affordable access to supplements, act now!

• Contact your Senators and Congresspeople, and let them know you would oppose any legislation that would put treat dietary supplements as prescription drugs.
• Oppose bills S 722 and HR 3377, both of which will regulate supplements as drugs.
• at For more information, see this article about the Codex
• Or visit the American Holistic Health website
• Decide which position you wish to support and take action!