NPA Challenges Proposed Restrictions to Nutritional Supplement Access in NJ
On Nov. 14, the Natural Products Association (NPA) called a New Jersey proposal to restrict access to dietary supplements a slap in the face to public health and consumer choice in public testimony against a proposal being considered in the state legislature. A similar proposal in California was recently vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The New Jersey legislation A3512 restricts access to dietary supplements and in certain situations requires a prescription to access these health products. While the bill is silent on regulating online sales of dietary supplements in New Jersey, failure to comply with this legislation would result in a fine of up to $750 for each infraction.
“This is a slap in the face to public health and consumer choice. New Jersey has recognized the importance of these products by exempting them from the state sales tax,” said Kyle Turk, vice president of government affairs for NPA. “The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) does not have a single data point that connects eating disorders to supplement use and 80 [percent] of Americans take at least one dietary supplement as a safe, effective and affordable way to maintain good health and augment inadequate diets. Yet, some New Jersey lawmakers do not believe its citizens are capable of making healthy choices for themselves. We are urging New Jersey lawmakers to follow the science and data provided by the FDA and oppose this counterproductive legislation.”
In July, New Jersey State Senator Bob Singer (30-Lakewood) introduced a Senate Joint Resolution recognizing July 9 as Creatine Day in the state.
NPA said it has led the fight as the only trade organization fighting against A3512 and has opposed similar legislation in California, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri and Rhode Island. NPA is also engaging its grassroots network and urging the industry to join the thousands of New Jerseyans to contact their state legislators to warn them of the consequences of this legislation.
For more information, visit www.npanational.org.
