Here Come the Vitamin Police Again

Is vitamin C a drug? Could your herbal tea be designated a controlled substance? Many in the vitamin and alternative medicine communities are sounding the alarm over a little known FDA proposal to reconcile the regulation of such substances with the regulations of Canada and Mexico. In the process, even green tea could be swept up in the bureaucracy.

The FDA is once again trying to destroy the 1994 DSHEA law that has made supplements "legal". This all comes to a head in five days - April 30th, 2007. The lawmakers have been very clever slipping this under the cracks. Only "doctors" would be able to "prescribe" most supplements deeded C.A.M. (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine). We're talking multivitamins, herbal supplements, homeopathic modalities...even massage oils. No joke.

Don't Believe Me? Take A Look... This was lifted right from the FDA's published PDF document on Docket No. 2006D-0480. You can read the entire PDF for yourself at http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/06d-0480-gld0001.pdf.

Here are some highlights (and translations) of the FDA's proposed legislation. This includes the substances that will be legislated by the FDA under the proposed guidelines.

"...a product used in a CAM therapy or practice may be subject to regulation as a biological product, cosmetic, drug, device, or food (including food additives and dietary supplements) under the act or the PHS Act. Second, neither the act nor the PHS Act exempts CAM products from regulation."

Translation: Anything used in any system of medicine may now be regulated as a drug or medical device by the FDA. This includes a biofeedback machine, acupuncture needles, a cup of herbal tea, massage oil, a glass of vegetable juice or even a bottle of water.

"...if a person decides to produce and sell raw vegetable juice for use in juice therapy to promote optimal health...
Translation: Raw vegetable juice will be regulated as a drug and must be FDA approved as a drug if it has any health effect whatsoever. Handing a cup of raw vegetable juice to someone and telling them it's good for the detoxification of their liver will get you arrested for practicing medicine without a license and promoting an "unapproved drug."

..."biologically based practices" includes, but is not limited to, botanicals, animal-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, prebiotics and probiotics: whole diets, and "functional foods". ...a botanical product intended for use in treating a disease would generally be regulated as a drug." ..."functional foods" may be subject to FDA regulation as foods, dietary supplements, or drugs under the Act.

Translation: All foods, supplements, superfoods and functional foods may be reclassified as drugs by the FDA, then regulated off the market.

"If... the manipulative and body-based practices involve the use of equipment (such as massage devices) or the application of a product (such as a lotion, cream, or oil) to the skin or other parts of the body, those products may be subject to regulation under the Act."

Translation: Massage oils and creams will be regulated as "drugs" and acupuncture needles as "medical devices." Taking this absurdity one step further, massage therapists who use their fingers to touch patients may have their fingers regulated as "medical devices" and be accused of practicing medicine for merely touching patients.

In a similar manner, The United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission, is trying to remove the regulation of such herbs and vitamins from United States sovereignty, and give such authority to a World Court.