As you may have heard, S. 510 contains provisions that could have profound affect on the dietary supplement industry. The Senate Bill is sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin and co-sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch and Thomas Harkin, among others. The Food Safety Bill, the companion version of S.510 proposed in the House of Representatives, was met with adamant opposition by the various trade associations that represent the dietary supplement, herbal and natural products industries. However, key modifications to the Senate Bill, due in part to industry lobbying, may result in a more palatable piece of legislation. As of this writing, the amended version of S.510 is out of committee and a vote in the Senate is scheduled for Monday, November 29th. For updates on the status of this and other legislation that affects our industry, please check back with us often.
For an overview of the legislation and to keep abreast of any additional amendments, we suggest: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-510
The full text of the legislation can be found here: S. 510 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act